Wheaton College vs Carleton College

Nestled in the heart of the Midwest, Wheaton College and Carleton College stand out as two beacons of academic excellence. While both institutions share a commitment to liberal arts education, they offer distinct experiences that cater to different student aspirations. Wheaton College, rooted in its Christian heritage, boasts a tight-knit community and a strong emphasis on faith-based learning. Carleton College, on the other hand, prides itself on its progressive values, diverse student body, and rigorous academic programs. As you embark on your college search, explore the nuances that set these two institutions apart, from their acceptance rates and popular majors to student demographics and graduation outcomes. Dive into the comparison table to discover which college aligns best with your academic pursuits, personal values, and future aspirations.

	Carleton College	Wheaton College
Overview
Location	Northfield, Minnesota	Wheaton, Illinois
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 and Graduate
Students retention rate	95.0%	89.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation		Undenominational

Admission
Acceptance rate	17.5%	86.3%
Application fees		Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $30
SAT range	1408 - 1550	1250 - 1430
ACT range	31 - 35	27 - 32
Students submitting SAT score	35.0%	32.0%
Students submitting ACT score	34.0%	25.0%
Total number of applicants	7,915	1,993
Total number of admissions given out	1,389	1,719
Admitted students who chose to enroll	555	546
Yield rate	40.0%	31.8%
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

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$78,315	$54,700
Average net price	$31,718	$28,319
Tuition	$59,850	$40,570
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $8,115 Meal plan: $7,260	Room/dormitory: $6,640 Meal plan: $4,660
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	65.0% Average amount $45,715	91.0% Average amount $23,469
Students receiving federal student loan	45.0% Average amount $3,914	52.0% Average amount $5,169
Students taking out private loans	2.0% Average amount $14,334	5.0% Average amount $15,404

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	2,044 Men 48.7% Women 51.3%	2,341 Men 44.9% Women 55.1%
Graduate students	N/A	706 Men 34.6% Women 65.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	81.5%	N/A
International students	10.2%	5.9%
Campus local/setting	Town: Distant	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	1,854	2,153
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

Academics
Popular study areas	Physical Science Social Sciences Ethnic Studies Mathematics and Statistics Visual & Performing Arts	Psychology Theology Education Health Professions Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	8:1	11:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	91.4%	87.6%
Dropout rate	8.3%	3.1%
Transferred out	N/A	9.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $76,876 Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: $101,936 Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $60,032 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $66,207 Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $28,526 Year 2: $23,034 Year 3: $30,071 Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,669 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,425 Year 2: $22,329 Year 3: N/A Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $46,952 Year 2: $37,568 Year 3: N/A Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $30,227 Year 2: $36,141 Year 3: N/A Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $20,625 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Physics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $42,774 Year 3: N/A Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,301 Year 2: $33,719 Year 3: N/A	Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $47,492 Year 2: $48,667 Year 3: $61,559 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $34,982 Year 2: $37,748 Year 3: $48,761 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $37,694 Year 2: $39,009 Year 3: $48,539 Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $30,613 Year 2: $33,459 Year 3: $41,661 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $42,251 Year 2: $37,856 Year 3: $41,339 Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $38,767 Year 2: $39,049 Year 3: $38,775 Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $35,864 Year 3: $36,928 English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $26,471 Year 2: $27,126 Year 3: $34,682 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $24,825 Year 2: $20,140 Year 3: $32,867 Religious Education (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $25,194 Year 3: $31,289

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