Northfield, MN · 2.1k students
Trajecta score
+0.6 since '20Ranked #61 of 2,375
5-year trend
73.0 · #61
2020
71.6 · #75
2021
72.1 · #72
2022
72.0 · #85
2023
73.6 · #67
2024
Academic Profile
84/ 100
Career Outcomes
79/ 100
Student Success
89/ 100
Affordability
62/ 100
Academic Investment
95/ 100
Access & Equity
20/ 100
Academic Profile
84
Career Outcomes
79
Student Success
89
Affordability
62
Academic Investment
95
Access & Equity
20
AI Fit Analysis
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Cost / Net Price
$85k / $25k
SAT Avg
1,517
Retention
96%
Grad Rate
90%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$68,892
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$68,892
per year
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
17%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
43%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$16,750
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Carleton College reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Very Important | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Very Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Very Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Very Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Very Important | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Very Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Not Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗Carleton Supplement Short-Answer Essay
Required300 wordsThink about someone you connect with who's different from you. What do you find most meaningful about your interactions with them?
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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