Carleton College vs The University of the South
Carleton College and The University of the South, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Carleton, a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 22%, while The University of the South, a private liberal arts university in Sewanee, Tennessee, offers a slightly higher acceptance rate of 34%. Carleton's student body is more diverse, with 45% students of color compared to The University of the South's 28%. Both institutions excel in academics, with Carleton's popular majors including economics, political science, and biology, and The University of the South's popular majors including English, history, and psychology. While Carleton boasts a higher graduation rate of 89%, The University of the South offers a more affordable tuition. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which institution better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Carleton College |
![]() The University of the South |
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Overview |
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Location | Northfield, Minnesota | Sewanee, Tennessee |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Rural: Distant |
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% | 90.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Protestant | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 17.5% | 60.3% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 1408 - 1550 | 1200 - 1390 |
ACT range | 31 - 35 | 26 - 31 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 25.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 34.0% | 49.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,915 | 4,162 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,389 | 2,508 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 555 | 474 |
Yield rate | 40.0% | 18.9% |
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 | $66,480 |
Average net price | $31,718 | $29,626 |
Tuition | $59,850 | $49,146 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,115
Meal plan:
$7,260
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Room/dormitory:
$7,314
Meal plan:
$6,798
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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 |
95.0%
Average amount $35,383 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
45.0%
Average amount $3,914 |
74.0%
Average amount $5,329 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,334 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,044
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
1,735
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
Graduate students | N/A |
85
Men 58.8% Women 41.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 81.5% | 77.6% |
International students | 10.2% | 3.9% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Rural: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 1,854 | 1,800 |
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 | Tennessee Georgia North Carolina Texas Alabama |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 91.4% | 80.2% |
Dropout rate | 8.3% | 1.9% |
Transferred out | N/A | 17.9% |
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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Theological and Ministerial Studies (First Professional Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
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