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.
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![]() Carleton College |
![]() Colorado College |
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Overview |
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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% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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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 |
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Tuition and Fees |
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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
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Room/dormitory:
$8,052
Meal plan:
$5,616
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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 |
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 |
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Students and Campus |
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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
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Low
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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 |
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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% | 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)
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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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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