2025-2026
Accept rate
21.8%
- Applicants
- 6,796
- Admits
- 1,480
- Enrolled
- 518
- Yield
- 35.0%
- ED Apps
- 760
- ED Admits
- 263
Total Applications
6,796
2025-2026
Acceptance Rate
21.8%
2025-2026
Enrolled Students
518
2025-2026
SAT Middle 50%
1460-1530
2025-2026
Carleton College Admissions at a Glance
Carleton College received 6,796 applications for 2025-2026 and admitted 21.8% of applicants; 518 admitted students enrolled (a 35.0% yield). That compares with an acceptance rate of 22.6% in 2016-2017. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1460–1530 on the SAT and 32–35 on the ACT. The total cost of attendance was $94,986, and the average need-based grant was $65,579.
Applications & Acceptance Rate Over Time
ApplicationsAcceptance Rate
Early Decision Applications
ED ApplicationsED Admits
Complete Admissions Data
2024-2025
Accept rate
20.4%
- Applicants
- 7,133
- Admits
- 1,456
- Enrolled
- 507
- Yield
- 34.8%
- ED Apps
- 667
- ED Admits
- 244
2023-2024
Accept rate
22.3%
- Applicants
- 6,464
- Admits
- 1,440
- Enrolled
- 538
- Yield
- 37.4%
- ED Apps
- 637
- ED Admits
- 247
2022-2023
Accept rate
16.6%
- Applicants
- 8,583
- Admits
- 1,427
- Enrolled
- 532
- Yield
- 37.3%
- ED Apps
- 1,161
- ED Admits
- 266
| Year | Applications | Admits | Enrolled | Accept Rate | Yield Rate | ED Apps | ED Admits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | 6,796 | 1,480 | 518 | 21.8% | 35.0% | 760 | 263 |
| 2024-2025 | 7,133 | 1,456 | 507 | 20.4% | 34.8% | 667 | 244 |
| 2023-2024 | 6,464 | 1,440 | 538 | 22.3% | 37.4% | 637 | 247 |
| 2022-2023 | 8,583 | 1,427 | 532 | 16.6% | 37.3% | 1,161 | 266 |
| 2021-2022 | 7,915 | 1,389 | 555 | 17.5% | 40.0% | 1,061 | 235 |
| 2020-2021 | 6,892 | 1,460 | 453 | 21.2% | 31.0% | 388 | 232 |
| 2019-2020 | 7,382 | 1,400 | 525 | 19.0% | 37.5% | 968 | 249 |
| 2018-2019 | 7,092 | 1,407 | 529 | 19.8% | 37.6% | 850 | 225 |
| 2017-2018 | 6,499 | 1,378 | 522 | 21.2% | 37.9% | 725 | 215 |
| 2016-2017 | 6,485 | 1,467 | 567 | 22.6% | 38.6% | 647 | 219 |
SAT Score Trends (Middle 50%)
MedianMiddle 50% Range
25th Percentile
1460
50th Percentile
1500
75th Percentile
1530
Financial Aid Overview
Avg Aid PackageTotal Cost
Students Receiving Aid
56%
Need Fully Met
100%
Cost of Attendance Over Time
$94,986
2025-2026 Total COA
TuitionFeesRoom & Board
Tuition
$75,186
Fees
$486
Room & Board
$19,314
Change Since 2016
+43%
Student Demographics
Enrollment Over Time
UndergraduateGraduate
Demographics Over Time (% of Undergraduates)
WhiteAsianHispanic/LatinoBlack/African AmericanInternationalTwo or More
Undergraduates
1,974
Total Enrollment
1,974
International
10%
Students of Color
49%
Admissions Factors
Relative importance reported in the latest available Common Data Set.
Source: CDS 2025-2026, Section C7
Academic
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Very Important
- Class rank
- Very Important
- Academic GPA
- Very Important
- Standardized test scores
- Considered
- Application essay
- Very Important
- Recommendation(s)
- Very Important
Nonacademic
- Interview
- Considered
- Extracurricular activities
- Very Important
- Talent/ability
- Very Important
- Character/personal qualities
- Very Important
- First generation
- Considered
- Alumni/ae relation
- Not Considered
- Geographical residence
- Considered
- State residency
- Not Considered
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Not Considered
- Volunteer work
- Considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Level of applicant's interest
- Not Considered
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | ||||
| Rigor of secondary school record | ✓ | |||
| Class rank | ✓ | |||
| Academic GPA | ✓ | |||
| Standardized test scores | ✓ | |||
| Application essay | ✓ | |||
| Recommendation(s) | ✓ | |||
| Nonacademic | ||||
| Interview | ✓ | |||
| Extracurricular activities | ✓ | |||
| Talent/ability | ✓ | |||
| Character/personal qualities | ✓ | |||
| First generation | ✓ | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | ✓ | |||
| Geographical residence | ✓ | |||
| State residency | ✓ | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | ✓ | |||
| Volunteer work | ✓ | |||
| Work experience | ✓ | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | ✓ | |||