Northfield, MN · Private · 2,086 undergraduates · town
Carleton College
Highly selective
A fast-moving trimester college where academic life culminates in department-specific Comps and spills directly into an integrated campus arboretum.
Institutional profile
Top tier Exceptional in academic standing, and strong in career outcomes.- Admission
- 22.3% admitted
- Price by income
- Varies across five income ranges
- Completion
- 91.4%
6,464 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$75,525 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets Carleton apart
Academic design
Three roughly ten-week academic terms create a faster course rhythm than a semester calendar.
Campus pattern
The Cowling Arboretum supports fieldwork, running, skiing, hiking, birding, and student projects.
A signature opportunity
Comps
Can I get in?
22.3% admitted
The strongest case shows why this structure fits a student comfortable with compressed pacing who wants self-directed capstone work and daily outdoor access.
Recent applicant pool
6,464About 22 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 30% submitted an SAT, and 27% submitted an ACT. Decide by comparing your score with the published range and the rest of your academic record.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for Carleton, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What Carleton weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
Three roughly ten-week academic terms create a faster course rhythm than a semester calendar.
Make institutional fit specific
A student comfortable with compressed pacing who wants self-directed capstone work and daily outdoor access.
Use the application route carefully
Keep the academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
Give commitments a clear through-line
Activities and recommendations should show sustained contribution, not a collection of disconnected credentials.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Use the application to show a clear academic direction and a specific reason this institutional structure fits.
Check eligibility for a fee waiver
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at Carleton
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read the outcomes panel as a whole: completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together matter more than one headline number.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Computer Science
Biology, General
International Relations and National Security Studies
Mathematics
Chemistry
What is campus life like?
Carleton beyond the classroom
The Cowling Arboretum supports fieldwork, running, skiing, hiking, birding, and student projects. Three terms create distinct academic cycles rather than one long fall and spring rhythm.
The academic structure
Three roughly ten-week academic terms create a faster course rhythm than a semester calendar.
How the community is organized
The Cowling Arboretum supports fieldwork, running, skiing, hiking, birding, and student projects.
Daily campus life
Three terms create distinct academic cycles rather than one long fall and spring rhythm.
What shapes an ordinary week
The Cowling Arboretum supports fieldwork, running, skiing, hiking, birding, and student projects. Three terms create distinct academic cycles rather than one long fall and spring rhythm.
Use the campus beyond class
A student comfortable with compressed pacing who wants self-directed capstone work and daily outdoor access.
Fit the community in practice
Ten-week terms leave less recovery time when a course becomes difficult or deadlines converge.