Carleton College vs Pitzer College
Carleton College and Pitzer 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 Pitzer's (33.5%) in Claremont, California. Carleton's student body is slightly larger, with an undergraduate enrollment of 2,100 students, while Pitzer's is more intimate, with approximately 1,000 undergraduates. Both colleges offer a diverse range of majors, with Carleton excelling in fields like economics, political science, and biology, while Pitzer is known for its strengths in environmental studies, psychology, and media studies. Carleton's graduation rate stands at 89%, while Pitzer'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 each college's unique strengths and
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![]() Carleton College |
![]() Pitzer College |
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Overview |
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Location | Northfield, Minnesota | Claremont, California |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Trimester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 93.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 17.5% | 18.3% |
Application fees | $70 | |
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 | 3,676 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,389 | 673 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 555 | 357 |
Yield rate | 40.0% | 53.0% |
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 | $74,950 |
Average net price | $31,718 | $19,153 |
Tuition | $59,850 | $57,686 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,115
Meal plan:
$7,260
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Room/dormitory:
$11,282
Meal plan:
$7,898
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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 |
42.0%
Average amount $39,399 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
45.0%
Average amount $3,914 |
24.0%
Average amount $3,323 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,334 |
1.0%
Average amount $14,063 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,044
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
1,168
Men 41.4% Women 58.6% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 81.5% | N/A |
International students | 10.2% | 7.2% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,854 | 972 |
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 |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 91.4% | 88.4% |
Dropout rate | 8.3% | 11.2% |
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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Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
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