20.4%
Acceptance Rate
$68,892
Avg Cost (In-State)
$68,892
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
90.4%
Graduation Rate
2,086
Total Enrollment
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Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 15
Early Deadline
November 15 (Early Decision I) and January 15 (Early Decision II)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
2
Interview
Available
Essays: Common App personal essay required plus Carleton supplemental writing supplement
Note: Optional alumni interview available, mid-year report required if applicable
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$53,989
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$75,525
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
90%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science. | $88,132 | — | 40 |
| Biology, General. | $30,726 | — | 35 |
| Economics. | $66,567 | $87,193 | 25 |
| Political Science and Government. | $29,858 | $53,975 | 23 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. | $39,238 | — | 23 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | $20,780 | — | 19 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | $40,371 | — | 17 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at Carleton College
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend Carleton College
Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Carleton College Need-Met Aid
100% need met; loans capped
universityAll admitted Carleton students with demonstrated need.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗MN GI Bill Surviving Spouse and Dependents Education Benefits
Up to $10,000 over lifetime
stateMN service member spouses/dependents whose veteran died or was permanently disabled in service.
Deadline: Through MN Dept of Veterans Affairs
Learn more ↗Macalester DeWitt Wallace Distinguished Scholarship
Up to $25,000/year
universityTop Macalester incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Minnesota State Grant
Up to $13,400/year
stateMN residents at MN postsecondary institutions; need-based, calculated by living + tuition costs minus expected family contribution.
Deadline: FAFSA + MN State Grant App by April 15
Learn more ↗Minnesota North Star Promise Scholarship
Free tuition at MN public colleges (under $80k family income)
stateMN residents with adjusted gross income under $80,000 attending MN public colleges and universities.
Deadline: FAFSA + MN State Grant App
Learn more ↗Minnesota Indian Scholarship
Up to $4,000/year
stateMN residents who are enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe.
Deadline: August 15
Learn more ↗Minneapolis Foundation Scholarships
$1,000-$5,000
localMN students with academic merit + community service.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation Scholarships
$500-$10,000+
localMN students; many named funds via common app.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Minnesota Private College Council Scholarship
$500-$3,000
stateMN residents at MN private colleges.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 20.4% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
20.41%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
15.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
13.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
20.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
17.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
36.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
96.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
94.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Considered
Visiting, attending info sessions and opening admissions emails meaningfully helps your chances. Track your touchpoints.
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