Carleton College vs DePauw
Carleton College and DePauw University, both highly regarded liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Carleton, located in Northfield, Minnesota, boasts a lower acceptance rate (22.5%) compared to DePauw's (34.5%) in Greencastle, Indiana. Carleton's student body is slightly larger, with an undergraduate enrollment of 2,100 students, while DePauw's is around 2,000. Both colleges offer a diverse range of majors, with popular choices at Carleton including economics, biology, and political science, while DePauw students often pursue majors in communication, business, and psychology. Carleton's graduation rate is slightly higher at 89%, compared to DePauw's 86%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two exceptional institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Carleton College |
![]() DePauw University |
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Overview |
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Location | Northfield, Minnesota | Greencastle, Indiana |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Trimester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 88.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 17.5% | 64.7% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 1408 - 1550 | 1160 - 1420 |
ACT range | 31 - 35 | 24 - 31 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 44.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 34.0% | 23.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,915 | 5,695 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,389 | 3,683 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 555 | 500 |
Yield rate | 40.0% | 13.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $78,315 | $67,196 |
Average net price | $31,718 | $27,348 |
Tuition | $59,850 | $52,900 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,115
Meal plan:
$7,260
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$14,098 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
65.0%
Average amount $45,715 |
99.0%
Average amount $38,789 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
45.0%
Average amount $3,914 |
25.0%
Average amount $5,351 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,334 |
7.0%
Average amount $3,504 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,044
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
1,724
Men 49.4% Women 50.6% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 81.5% | 58.0% |
International students | 10.2% | 16.9% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 1,854 | 1,300 |
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 | Indiana Illinois Ohio Missouri New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 91.4% | 82.6% |
Dropout rate | 8.3% | 17.4% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Religion/Religious Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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