Carleton College vs Colorado College

Carleton College and Colorado College, both highly regarded liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Carleton, located in Northfield, Minnesota, boasts a lower acceptance rate (22.5%) compared to Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado (33.5%). Carleton's student body is slightly larger, with an undergraduate enrollment of 2,100 students, while Colorado College has a more intimate community of 2,000 undergraduates. Both colleges offer a diverse range of majors, with Carleton excelling in fields like economics, political science, and English, while Colorado College is known for its strengths in environmental science, psychology, and international studies. Carleton's graduation rate stands at 89%, while Colorado College's is slightly lower at 86%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more, providing valuable insights into the unique strengths and characteristics of each institution.
Carleton College logo

Carleton College

Colorado College logo

Colorado College

Overview

Location Northfield, Minnesota Colorado Springs, Colorado
Campus setting Town: Distant City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Trimester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 95.0% 96.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 17.5% 14.3%
Application fees
SAT range 1408 - 1550 N/A
ACT range 31 - 35 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 35.0%
Students submitting ACT score 34.0%
Total number of applicants 7,915 10,975
Total number of admissions given out 1,389 1,564
Admitted students who chose to enroll 555 620
Yield rate 40.0% 39.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $78,315 $79,562
Average net price $31,718 $30,200
Tuition $59,850 $61,596
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,115

Meal plan: $7,260
Room/dormitory: $8,052

Meal plan: $5,616
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

65.0%
Average amount $45,715
57.0%
Average amount $48,666
Students receiving federal student loan 45.0%
Average amount $3,914
26.0%
Average amount $5,010
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $14,334
1.0%
Average amount $26,825

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,044
Men 48.7% Women 51.3%
2,241
Men 43.5% Women 56.5%
Graduate students N/A 25
Men 20.0% Women 80.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 81.5% N/A
International students 10.2% 6.6%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant City: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,854 1,745
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Minnesota California Illinois New York Texas N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Physical Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Physical Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
Students to faculty ratio 8:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 91.4% 85.7%
Dropout rate 8.3% 2.2%
Transferred out N/A 11.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,876
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $101,936
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,032
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $66,207
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,526
  • Year 2: $23,034
  • Year 3: $30,071
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,669
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,425
  • Year 2: $22,329
  • Year 3: N/A
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,952
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: N/A
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,227
  • Year 2: $36,141
  • Year 3: N/A
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,625
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Physics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,774
  • Year 3: N/A
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,301
  • Year 2: $33,719
  • Year 3: N/A
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,092
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $59,954
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,396
  • Year 2: $20,482
  • Year 3: $29,045
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,826
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $16,137
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,555
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $21,508
  • Year 3: N/A
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,472
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: N/A
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: N/A

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