Carleton College: A Comprehensive Look at Demographics and Institutional Profile

Carleton College, a private liberal arts institution founded in 1866, is located in Northfield, Minnesota. Ranked among the top National Liberal Arts Colleges, Carleton is known for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and a rich, multicultural learning environment. This article delves into the demographic statistics, costs, admissions, campus life, and academic programs that define Carleton College.

Institutional Overview

Carleton College holds a prominent position in higher education, securing the #10 spot in the 2026 edition of Best Colleges among National Liberal Arts Colleges. Furthermore, it is recognized as #1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching. The college operates on a trimester-based academic calendar and boasts a student-faculty ratio of 9:1, ensuring personalized attention for its students.

The college 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. On his way from visiting a potential donor, William Carleton of Charlestown, Massachusetts, Strong was badly injured in a collision between his carriage and a train. Impressed by Strong's survival of the accident, Carleton donated $50,000 to the fledgling institution in 1871. The first graduating class was in 1874 and consisted of James J. Dow and Myra A. Brown, who married each other later that year. A third student, Bayard T. Holmes, had originally been in the same class, but withdrew before graduating.

Enrollment and Student Body Composition

As of fall 2024, Carleton College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,128 students. The college prides itself on attracting students from across the United States and internationally, fostering a globally diverse campus community.

Race and Ethnicity

Carleton College embraces diversity, with 38% of students identifying as students of color and 12% as international students. This creates a rich multicultural learning environment that celebrates students from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. The racial and ethnic composition of the student body is as follows:

Read also: Carleton College Affordability

White: 51.5%
Asian: 10.3%
Hispanic or Latino: 9.91%
Two or More Races: 8.99%
Black or African American: 6.81%
American Indian or Alaska Native: 0.0967%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders: 0.0483%

Gender Distribution

Carleton College maintains an equitable gender distribution, with 50% female students and 50% male students.

Men: 1,043 (50% of total enrollment)
Women: 1,063 (50% of total enrollment)

Age Distribution

Carleton College primarily serves traditional college-age students. The age demographics reveal that 90% of the student population is between 18 and 21 years old.

Traditional Age (18-21): 90%

Geographic Diversity

Carleton College ranks 34 out of 2,183 in terms of geographic diversity. A significant portion of the student body comes from outside of Minnesota, enhancing the diversity of perspectives on campus.

Out-of-State Students: 85.05%
International Students: 9.17%

The undergraduate student body represents 44 states, including Washington D.C.

Costs and Financial Aid

Tuition

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Carleton College was $65,043, significantly higher than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($29,280).

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition: $65,043

Average Net Price

After factoring in grants and loans, the average net price for students at Carleton College in 2023 was $29,434.

2023 Average Net Price: $29,434

Other Expenses

In addition to tuition, students also incur expenses for room and board, books, and supplies.

Room and Board: $15,990 (2023)
Books and Supplies: $938 (2023)

Financial Aid

Carleton College is committed to making education accessible. In 2023, 62% of undergraduate students received financial aid through grants, and 43% received aid through loans.

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants: 62%
Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans: 43%

In 2021, the default rate for borrowers at Carleton College was 0%, indicating strong financial outcomes for graduates.

Admissions

Carleton College's admissions process is highly selective. The college accepts the Common Application and has a test-optional admissions policy.

Read also: Navigating Carleton's Library

Acceptance Rate

In 2023, Carleton College received 6,464 undergraduate applications and accepted 1,440 students, resulting in an acceptance rate of 22.3%.

2023 Acceptance Rate: 22.3%

SAT Scores

30% of enrolled first-time students submitted SAT scores with their applications in 2023.

Academic Profile

Carleton College offers a range of academic programs and opportunities for its students.

Student-Faculty Ratio

The student-faculty ratio at Carleton College is 9:1, fostering close interactions between students and faculty.

Majors and Degrees

In 2023, Carleton College awarded 557 degrees across all undergraduate and graduate programs. The most common fields of study include:

Computer Science
General Biology
Mathematics and Statistics
Economics
Political Science and Government

Graduation and Retention Rates

Carleton College boasts high graduation and retention rates, indicating a supportive and successful academic environment.

Four-Year Graduation Rate: 82%
Retention Rate (Full-Time Undergraduates): 96%

In 2023, 87% of students completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 91% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 92% within 200%.

Study Abroad

Studying abroad is a popular option at Carleton, with 76% of the senior class of 2018 having studied abroad at least once during their four years. Carleton offers a number of its own programs each year, which are led by Carleton faculty and available only to Carleton students.

Campus Life and Traditions

Carleton College offers a vibrant campus life with numerous traditions and activities.

Cultural Engagement

Carleton College provides numerous cultural organizations, diversity programs, and multicultural events that celebrate the rich backgrounds of the student community.

Student Activities

Carleton has numerous student traditions and a long history of student pranks, including painting the college's water tower. The Carletonian is the school's student newspaper. It was founded in 1877 and renamed The Carletonia from June 1881 until November 12, 1921, when it regained its original title.

Athletics

The Carleton athletic teams are called the Knights. Carleton's biggest athletic rival is St. Olaf College, located on the other side of Northfield. The Knights and the Oles contest six trophies in yearly matchups. The student-run Ultimate clubs have had national success; the school's top men's team, Carleton Ultimate Team (CUT), and women's team, Syzygy, are perennial national contenders in the USA Ultimate College Division I tournaments.

Facilities and Campus

The 1,040-acre school campus is on a hill overlooking the Cannon River, at the northeast edge of Northfield. Several of Carleton's older buildings have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Historic Buildings

Willis Hall, the first building on campus, was constructed from 1869 to 1872. Goodsell Observatory, also on the NRHP, was constructed in 1887 and at the time was the largest observatory in the state of Minnesota. Scoville Hall (originally Scoville Memorial Library), completed in 1896, is on the NRHP. Skinner Memorial Chapel, completed in 1916, is on the NRHP.

Cowling Arboretum

Since 1970, acreage has been removed from cultivation in sections. The Arboretum is divided by Minnesota Highway 19 into the larger Lower Arb to the north and the smaller Upper Arb.

Outcomes

Median Salary

Six years after graduation, the median salary for Carleton College graduates is $53,989.

Graduate Studies

Within five years of graduating, between 65% and 75% of graduates pursue postgraduate studies. The 15 most common graduate or professional schools attended by Carleton students are University of MinnesotaâTwin Cities, University of WisconsinâMadison, University of MichiganâAnn Arbor, Harvard, University of Chicago, University of Washington, Columbia, UC Berkeley, Northwestern, NYU, Yale, and Stanford.

Endowment and Operations

Endowment

Carleton College has an endowment valued at nearly $1.18B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year.

Salary Expenditure

In 2023, Carleton College had a total salary expenditure of 177M. Carleton College employs 115 Professors, 72 Assistant professors and 48 Associate professors.

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