Davidson College vs Carleton College
Davidson College and Carleton College, both highly regarded liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Davidson, located in North Carolina, boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate (29%) compared to Carleton's (25%). While Davidson's student body is more diverse, Carleton has a slightly higher graduation rate (89% vs. 87%). Both colleges excel in academics, with popular majors including Economics, English, and Biology at Davidson and Economics, Political Science, and Biology at Carleton. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these colleges' differences in cost, financial aid, student life, and more, and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Carleton College |
![]() Davidson College |
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Overview |
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Location | Northfield, Minnesota | Davidson, North Carolina |
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% | 95.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 17.5% | 17.8% |
Application fees | $50 | |
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 | 6,434 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,389 | 1,145 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 555 | 547 |
Yield rate | 40.0% | 47.8% |
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 | $73,200 |
Average net price | $31,718 | $25,794 |
Tuition | $59,850 | $54,460 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,115
Meal plan:
$7,260
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Room/dormitory:
$7,700
Meal plan:
$7,525
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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 $47,889 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
45.0%
Average amount $3,914 |
10.0%
Average amount $5,095 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,334 |
2.0%
Average amount $33,219 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,044
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
1,973
Men 47.2% Women 52.8% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 81.5% | 76.8% |
International students | 10.2% | 8.2% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,854 | 1,830 |
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 | North Carolina Virginia Texas New Jersey Florida |
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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% | 89.6% |
Dropout rate | 8.3% | 10.0% |
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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Economics (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Political Science and Government (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
English Language and Literature, General (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Biology, General (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Psychology, General (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Anthropology (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
History (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
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