Exploring Academic Opportunities: A Guide to Majors at Carleton College

Carleton College, established in 1866, is a liberal arts college known for its strong academic programs and commitment to providing a well-rounded education. With a student-faculty ratio of 9:1 and 66.3% of classes having fewer than 20 students, Carleton offers a close-knit learning environment where students can thrive. The college is situated on a 1,040-acre campus on a hill overlooking the Cannon River, at the northeast edge of Northfield. Carleton College offers 33 different majors and 39 minors.

A Brief History

Founded when the Minnesota Conference of Congregational Churches resolved to establish a college in Northfield, Carleton's early years were shaped by its founders' theological conservatism. Key figures such as Charles Augustus Wheaton and Charles Moorehouse Goodsell donated land to establish the campus. An early donation from William Carleton in 1871 significantly boosted the institution. Over time, Carleton evolved, embracing modern religious influences and expanding its academic offerings.

Academic Programs and Offerings

Carleton College offers a range of Bachelor's degrees and combined-degree programs. These include a 3-3 BA/JD Law program with Columbia University Law School and a Dual Degree Engineering Program with Washington University in St. Louis.

The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Students also have the option to design their own major, although gaining approval for a special major petition is infrequent, and requires approval by the Academic Standing Committee (ASC).

Language Studies

Carleton emphasizes the importance of language proficiency, offering ten languages: Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Degree students are required to demonstrate proficiency in a second language (which can be achieved through testing, placement examinations, or classes at Carleton).

Read also: Carleton College Affordability

Trimester System

The academic calendar follows a trimester system, where students typically take three classes per 10-week term.

Graduation Requirements

Carleton's graduation requirements are designed to expose students to a wide variety of disciplines independent of their selected major subject.

Studying Abroad

Studying abroad is a popular choice 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.

Popular Majors

For 2024 Graduates the ten most popular majors include:

Biology/Biological Sciences, General (9%)
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (8%)
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (7%)
International Relations and Affairs (7%)
English Language and Literature, General (4%)

As of January 2026, Computer Science is the most popular major, with 147 declared majors in the combined classes of 2026 and 2027.

Read also: Student Directory Information

Other popular majors at Carleton College include:

Mathematics, General
Chemistry, General
Physics, General
History, General

Natural Sciences

This includes majors like Chemistry, Computer Science, Biology, Physics, Mathematics, and Environmental Science.

Humanities

This includes majors like Classics, Cinema and Media Studies, English, Philosophy, Religion, and various languages.

Social Sciences

Majors available in this area include Anthropology, Economics, Sociology, Political Economy, Political Science, and Psychology.

Interdisciplinary Studies

An area that combines disciplines and allows a more unique approach.

Read also: Navigating Carleton's Library

Rankings and Recognition

Carleton consistently receives high rankings from various publications. For 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranks it tied for 8th overall, 1st for "Best Undergraduate Teaching", and 17th for "Best Value". In 2019, the Washington Monthly ratings ranked Carleton 24th among liberal arts colleges based on social mobility, research, and service criteria.

Graduate School and Career Paths

Carleton graduates are highly successful in pursuing further education and careers. In the 2023-2024 school year, 14 Carleton graduates obtained a Fulbright grant from 54 applications. On average, over 80% of Carleton graduates are accepted to medical school and about 90% to law school. 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 Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Harvard, University of Chicago, University of Washington, Columbia, UC Berkeley, Northwestern, NYU, Yale, and Stanford. Over 20% of all Carleton graduates since 1990 work in the business/finance/sales sector. Over 10% work in either healthcare or higher education.

Campus and Traditions

The college campus was created in 1867 with the gifts of two 10-acre parcels from local businessmen Charles M. Goodsell and Charles Augustus Wheaton. Several of Carleton's older buildings have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). 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. Skinner Memorial Chapel, completed in 1916, is on the NRHP.

Carleton has numerous student traditions and a long history of student pranks, including painting the college's water tower. A bust of Friedrich Schiller, known simply as "Schiller", has made regular, brief appearances at large campus events. In 1964, Carleton students named an intramural slow-pitch softball league after Marv Rotblatt, a former Chicago White Sox pitcher. Every first year student receives a frisbee on their first day of orientation. Every spring since 1979, Carleton students have organized a music festival called Farmstock.

Student Life and Extracurriculars

The Carletonian is the school's student newspaper. The Carleton Literary Association Paper (The CLAP) is a weekly satire publication, distributed on Fridays during convocation time.

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.

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