Carleton College vs Vanderbilt
Carleton College and Vanderbilt University, two prestigious 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. Vanderbilt, a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, offers a wide range of academic programs and opportunities for research and collaboration. With acceptance rates of 18% and 10%, respectively, both institutions are highly selective. Carleton's student body is predominantly White (68%) and female (56%), while Vanderbilt's is more diverse, with a larger population of students of color (38%) and a more even gender distribution (51% female, 49% male). Explore the comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your college decision.
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![]() Carleton College |
![]() Vanderbilt University |
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Overview |
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Location | Northfield, Minnesota | Nashville, Tennessee |
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% | 97.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 17.5% | 7.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$95
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SAT range | 1408 - 1550 | 1480 - 1570 |
ACT range | 31 - 35 | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 25.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 34.0% | 32.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,915 | 47,152 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,389 | 3,368 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 555 | 1,626 |
Yield rate | 40.0% | 48.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not 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 | $79,538 |
Average net price | $31,718 | $27,553 |
Tuition | $59,850 | $54,840 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,115
Meal plan:
$7,260
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Room/dormitory:
$12,000
Meal plan:
$6,376
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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 |
64.0%
Average amount $49,730 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
45.0%
Average amount $3,914 |
10.0%
Average amount $4,979 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,334 |
2.0%
Average amount $27,798 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,044
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
7,111
Men 48.9% Women 51.1% |
Graduate students | N/A |
6,685
Men 39.5% Women 60.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 81.5% | 89.5% |
International students | 10.2% | 11.7% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,854 | 5,598 |
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 | Tennessee California New York Florida Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 8:1 |
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% | 93.4% |
Dropout rate | 8.3% | 6.4% |
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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Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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