Carleton College

Northfield, MN · Private · Town (distant)

Private institution in Northfield, MN · 2,019 undergraduates · 22% acceptance rate · $75,525 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 4%Graduation rate (4-year)
Top 4%Average SAT
Top 4%Median ACT
Top 5%Acceptance rate

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $27,3201,610th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $65,4572,013th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $65,4572,013th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $81,3501,929th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $16,750395th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $75,525196th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $53,989382nd highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 91.2%74th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 95.9%115th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 22.3%85th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 149145th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 3334th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 2,019939th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 8.0:1216th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 14.0%1,971st highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 29 mi (MSP)

On 3 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

EDNov 15
ED IIJan 15
RDJan 15

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 39 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Computer Science	bachelors	$74,576	$76,460
EconomicsSocial Sciences	bachelors	$58,943	—
MathematicsMathematics & Statistics	bachelors	$42,188	$37,568
International Relations and National Security StudiesSocial Sciences	bachelors	$39,927	—
History	bachelors	$31,839	—
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciences	bachelors	$30,771	$33,993
Psychology, GeneralPsychology	bachelors	$29,685	$33,719
Social Sciences, OtherSocial Sciences	bachelors	$29,685	$26,353
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences	bachelors	$25,194	$23,034
Area StudiesArea & Ethnic Studies	bachelors	$24,035	—
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$23,456	$21,964
English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$22,667	$22,329

Campus facts

Founded in 1866source
Athletic nickname: "Knights"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
School colors: Bluesource
Motto: "Declaratio Sermonum Tuorum Illuminat (Latin)"source
Campus size: about 1,040 acressource
Formerly known as "Northfield College" (1866–1871)source
Athletic conference: MIACsource
A [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program institutionsource
A Space-grant]] institutionsource
Plays for the "The Book of Knowledge{{cite web|url=https://miacathletics.com/sports/2022/4/20/about-honor-history-rivalry-trophies-book-of-knowledge.aspx|title=The Book of Knowledge|work=MIAC|publisher=Minnesota Interactive Athletic Conference|access-date=September 13, 2025}}" (since 1898)source
Plays for the "Goat Trophy"source
Notable alum: Thorstein Veblensource
Notable alum: Jack Lewsource
Notable alum: Richard E. Stearnssource
Notable alum: Mary-Claire Kingsource
Notable alum: Max Baucussource

Athletics — 10 sports

NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.