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Economic score
Carleton College is a private liberal arts college located in Northfield, Minnesota. Carleton College is very selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Carleton College is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $67,132 10 years after enrolling, 3rd in Minnesota, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Carleton College bachelor students earn 8% less than the national average. Carleton College is ranked 14th in Minnesota.
Carleton College’s median net annual cost of $28,928 and average years to graduate of 4.1 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Carleton College sorted by number of graduates - Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, Chemistry, Physics - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$28,928
Average years to graduate
4.1
Area Studies
Rank: #57
Economic score: 60.48
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.1 years. 92% of all students graduate within 8 years. The graduation rate at Carleton College is 28% higher than the state average, and 23% above the average for all liberal arts colleges in the country.
At Carleton College, Pell Grant recipients represent 14% of the measured graduating class, 21% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Carleton College graduates within 4.1 years.
Carleton College is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Carleton College’s economic mobility score of 13.23 is calculated by adjusting the 0.72 economic score of lower-income students by the 14% pell grant recipients within the student body. Carleton College’s EMS of 13.23 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Carleton College pays $28,928 a year, $48,172 less than the $77,100 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $28,928
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Carleton College, 65% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $28,928 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 45% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $4,597. This is 9% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$3,914
Pell grants
$4,841
State grants
$5,422
Institutional grants
$41,770
Carleton College's very selective admissions are indicated by their 18% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 7,915 applicants, of which 1,389 were admitted and 555 enrolled. Carleton College doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
46%
59%
First time
100%
59%
In-state
19%
68%
1st generation
16%
35%
White
56%
52%
Black
6%
14%
Hispanic
9%
15%
Asian
10%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
20%
12%