Carleton College

Aerial view of Carleton
Campus building
Center for Math and Computing
Laird Hall
Carleton College arboretum
Laird Stadium
Nourse Hall
Goodsell Observatory
Sayles-Hill Campus Center
Carleton wind turbine

www.carleton.edu

Carleton College
Office of Admissions
100 South College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

phone: 507.222.4190
toll-free: 800.995.2275
fax: 507.222.4526
email admissions

Want to get to know us better? Come visit!

Majors and Degrees Offered

Overview

Ready to work hard and play hard? Carleton is one of the nation's top liberal arts and sciences colleges, boasting success from physics to frisbee and everything in between. Our academic programs span the disciplines, giving you a broad foundation of knowledge to take your interdisciplinary learning to the next level. With students hailing from across the country and around the world, our diverse community will challenge and support you. Located in the historic river city of Northfield, we're just 40 miles south of the Twin Cities; you'll find plenty to occupy your time outside of class. Carleton graduates go on to become physicians, teachers, civic leaders, artists, engineers, authors — and our strong opportunities in research and internships will help prepare you for whatever comes after Carleton.

Carleton College at a Glance

Enrollment

  • Undergraduate: 2,055

Academic

  • Student/faculty ratio: 9:1
  • Average class size: 18
  • Number undergraduate majors: 38

Racial/Ethnic Distribution

75% White, 4% Black, 7% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 5% multiracial

First-Year Student Profile

  • Average ACT score: The middle 50% of enrolled students had ACT composite scores between 29 and 33. 57% of first-year students presented the ACT as part of their applications.
  • Average SAT score: Middle 50% ranges for SAT Math: 670-760, SAT Reading: 670-760, SAT Writing: 660-750. 63% of students submitted the SAT as part of their applications.
  • Percentage from Minnesota: 20%
  • Percentage who live on campus: 94%

Cost

  • 2013-14 undergraduate tuition and fees: $46,167
  • Room and board: $11,982
  • Percentage first-time undergraduates receiving financial-aid: Around 64% of Carleton students qualify for some form of financial aid. 55% of financial aid awards are in the form of need-based grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid.

Religious Affiliation

  • None

Academics

Degrees offered

Bachelor of Arts

View all Majors and Degrees

5 largest majors

Biology, Political Science/International Relations, Economics, Mathematics, Chemistry

Faculty

243 total instructional faculty: 220 Full-time; 23 Part-time. 94% hold a doctorate or a terminal degree in their field.

Student/faculty ratio

9:1

Average class size

18

Accreditation & Approval

American Chemical Society, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools

Pre-Professional Programs

Architecture, business and management, chemistry, dentistry, engineering, hospital administration or health systems, journalism and publishing, law, library science, medicine, ministry, nursing, social work and veterinary science.

Teaching Licensure Programs

Carleton offers Minnesota teaching licensure preparation for grades 5-12 in communication arts, mathematics, earth and space science, life science and social studies. Grades 9-12 preparation is available in physics and chemistry. K-12 preparation is available in French, German, Spanish and visual art. Elementary licensure combined with a Master's in education may be completed through collaboration between Carleton College and the Bank Street College of Education in New York City.

Non-Traditional Education Programs

Adult education programs are available on a limited basis for area residents and alumni.

Intercampus Agreements

A cooperative agreement with St. Olaf College enables Carleton and St. Olaf students to take courses on either campus.

Study Abroad Programs

Carleton sponsors a wide range of international and domestic off-campus seminars in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America and the U.S. Carleton co-sponsors with other select colleges the Associated Kyoto Program in Japan and the Inter-Collegiate Sri Lanka Education (ISLE) Program. Additional programs are available through Carleton's membership in the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) in the U.S., the Czech Republic, Japan, Italy, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, and India, and membership in the HECUA consortium with programs in the U.S., Guatemala, Ecuador, Norway, Northern Ireland, and Bangladesh. Students are also eligible to participate in a wide variety of non-Carleton programs around the world. In any graduating class about 65% to 75% have studied abroad during their undergraduate career.

Internships/ career services

Students wishing to gain career experience may apply to Carleton's Career Center for placement in established internship programs or they may design their own programs. Credit may be awarded with faculty permission.

The Career Center has available a wide range of information on occupations, career exploration projects, job opportunities, graduate and professional schools and scholarship and fellowship opportunities. Career counseling, graduate and professional school testing and scheduling of on-campus job interviews also are offered.

Admission & cost

Admissions

Online application: go.carleton.edu/apply

Admissions tests required: ACT with writing or SAT

Application deadlines: Early Decision Fall — November 15; Early Decision Winter — January 15; Regular Decision — January 15

Application fee (amount): Free online

Advanced placement credit

Carleton accepts up to 36 credits toward the Carleton degree from the following: College Board AP credits, and IB credits. These credits may not be applied to distribution requirements. The faculty urges prospective students to take advantage of opportunities for advanced study available to them. Several departments on campus offer tests to determine student placement into appropriate level Carleton courses. SAT II scores of 690 and above for French or Spanish or 680 and above for German successfully fulfill the language requirement. To find out more about Carleton and credits for advanced classes: go.carleton.edu/admissions

Transfer criteria (credits, GPA):

No more than 102 Carleton credits may be transferred. Usually successful transfer students have a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Transfer process (deadlines and materials)

Fall Deadline: March 31. A complete application includes the application, test scores (SAT or ACT), high school and college transcripts, Dean or Adviser's recommendation letter and a statement on reasons for transferring.

Cost

2013-14 undergraduate tuition and fees: $46,167

Room and board: $11,982

Percentage of first-time undergraduates receiving financial aid: Around 56% of Carleton students qualify for some form of financial aid. 55% of financial aid awards are in the form of need-based grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid.

Financial aid information

Affording Carleton
Net price calculator

Student involvement

Student organizations

8 publications, 25 music/art groups, 31 cultural, ethnic and religious groups, 13 political groups, 6 environmental/outdoor groups, 8 educational groups, 3 pre-professional groups, 34 student hobby groups and 11 community service groups. Carleton also has a student-run AM/FM radio station and pub.

Athletic programs

Conference membership

NCAA Division III, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)

Men's varsity

Baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, indoor track, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field

Women's varsity

Basketball, cross-country, golf, indoor track, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, outdoor track and field, volleyball

Intramurals

Basketball, Quiddith, flag football, racquetball, dodge ball, sand volleyball, tennis, broomball, floor hockey, soccer, disc golf, tennis, softball, Ultimate

Club sports

Aikido, badminton, cycling, equestrian, fencing, field hockey, ice hockey, karate, lacrosse, rugby, synchronized swimming, tae kwon do, Ultimate Frisbee, men's volleyball and water polo

Fine Arts Offerings

Majors in Art & Arts History, Cinema & Media Studies, English, Music, and Theater & Dance; 5 student a capella groups, Experimental Theater Board, Sketch comedy group, Stand-up comedy group, Numerous theater groups, Film society, Folk music society, Student photography cooperative, DVD Film-Making Festival

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