Campus Vibe
Highly selective — strong graduate outcomes
Carleton College is a private institution in Northfield with particular strength in computer science and biology. With an average SAT of 1491, the school attracts a competitive applicant pool.
A mid-sized campus of 2K undergraduates with a 8:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.
91% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $75,525 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $27,320.
Campus Visits
Plan Your Visit
Admissions
SAT Score Ranges
Average: 1491
ACT Score Range
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker Price
Net Price by Family Income
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.
Debt & Aid Detail
Net Price Trend
Tuition Trend
Graduate w/ Zero Debt
57.0%
Avg Tuition Increase
4.6%/yr
Median Debt at Grad
$15,960
Campus Safety
Total Incidents (2024)
14
Peer Average
13
3-Year Trend
Emergency System
Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones
Incident Breakdown (2024)
Burglary
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft
Sex Offenses
Arson
Drug Arrests
Liquor Arrests
Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).
Programs (36)
Student Life
Student Satisfaction
Retention Rate
96%
Student Body
Race & Ethnicity
Outcomes
Median Earnings After Graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.
Rankings
More About This School
Varsity Sports — Knights
History & Fun Facts
- •History The school was founded in 1866, when the Minnesota Conference of Congregational Churches unanimously accepted a resolution to locate a college in Northfield.
- •Two Northfield businessmen, Charles Augustus Wheaton and Charles Moorehouse Goodsell, each donated 10 acres (4 ha) of land for the first campus.
- •The first students enrolled at the preparatory unit of Northfield College in the fall of 1867.
- •In 1870, the first college president, James Strong, traveled to the East Coast to raise funds for the college.
- •Impressed by Strong's survival of the accident, Carleton donated $50,000 to the fledgling institution in 1871.
Source: Wikipedia
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Estimated from MN state average
Climate (School Year)
Nearest Cities
Getting There
Nearest Airports
Distance to Cities
Visit Planning
Nearby Hotels
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