Carleton College vs Duke University
Carleton College and Duke University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Carleton, a liberal arts college nestled in Northfield, Minnesota, boasts a tight-knit community and a focus on undergraduate teaching. Duke, a renowned research university located in Durham, North Carolina, provides a diverse range of academic programs and opportunities for interdisciplinary exploration. With acceptance rates of 18% and 8%, respectively, both institutions are highly selective. Carleton's student body is predominantly White (68%) and female (56%), while Duke's student body is more diverse, with a larger international student population (15%) and a more even gender distribution (51% female, 49% male). Popular majors at Carleton include Economics, Biology, and English, while Duke students commonly pursue majors in Public Policy, Economics, and Biology. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Carleton at 94% and Duke at 93%. Explore the detailed comparison
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![]() Carleton College |
![]() Duke University |
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Overview |
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Location | Northfield, Minnesota | Durham, North Carolina |
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% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 17.5% | 5.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$95
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SAT range | 1408 - 1550 | 1468 - 1558 |
ACT range | 31 - 35 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 47.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 34.0% | 46.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,915 | 49,703 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,389 | 2,927 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 555 | 1,744 |
Yield rate | 40.0% | 59.6% |
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 | $79,860 |
Average net price | $31,718 | $27,297 |
Tuition | $59,850 | $58,085 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,115
Meal plan:
$7,260
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Room/dormitory:
$9,164
Meal plan:
$6,862
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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 |
46.0%
Average amount $50,731 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
45.0%
Average amount $3,914 |
20.0%
Average amount $4,537 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,334 |
3.0%
Average amount $22,957 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,044
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
6,883
Men 48.4% Women 51.6% |
Graduate students | N/A |
10,737
Men 45.5% Women 54.5% |
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% | 21.4% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,854 | 5,718 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | Yes |
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 | 6:1 |
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% | 95.9% |
Dropout rate | 8.3% | 4.0% |
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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International Business (Master's Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Master's Degrees)
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