Carleton College vs. Davidson

Carleton College and Davidson College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Carleton College
Davidson College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Davidson (13.4% admitted vs 20.4%). Typical SAT 1470 vs 1510.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $28,047 at Carleton College vs $27,720 at Davidson. Carleton College in-state tuition is about $4,482 more per year.
  • Graduation: Carleton College 93% vs Davidson 92%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Carleton College $65,600 vs Davidson $63,500 (median).
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Key differences

Carleton College Davidson College
Acceptance rate
Davidson more selective
Carleton College20.4%
Davidson13.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Carleton College higher
Carleton College1450-1560
Davidson1400-1530
Average net price
About even
Carleton College$28,047
Davidson$27,720
In-state tuition
Davidson $4,482 less
Carleton College$68,892
Davidson$64,410
Out-of-state tuition
Davidson $4,482 less
Carleton College$68,892
Davidson$64,410
Graduation rate
Carleton College +1 pts
Carleton College93%
Davidson92%
Median earnings (10 years)
Carleton College +$2,100
Carleton College$65,600
Davidson$63,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Carleton College 7,133
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Admitted
  • Carleton College 1,456
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Acceptance rate
  • Carleton College 20.4%
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Carleton College 34.8%
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Carleton College 1510
  • Davidson 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • Carleton College 33
  • Davidson 32
  • Average high school GPA
  • Carleton College 3.9
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Typical high school grades
  • Carleton College A
  • Davidson A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Carleton College Elite
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • Carleton College Very High
  • Davidson Very High
  • SAT range
  • Carleton College 1450-1560
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • ACT range
  • Carleton College 32-34
  • Davidson 31-34
  • Submit test scores
  • Carleton College Test optional
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Carleton College Jan 15, 2027
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Carleton College $68,892
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Carleton College $68,892
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Room & board
  • Carleton College $17,586
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Average net price
  • Carleton College $28,047
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Average grant aid
  • Carleton College $56,846
  • Davidson $51,755
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Carleton College 59%
  • Davidson 65%
  • Graduation rate
  • Carleton College 93%
  • Davidson 92%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Carleton College $65,600
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • Carleton College 92%
  • Davidson 89%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Carleton College $19,500
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Carleton College $201
  • Davidson $175
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Carleton College 8:1
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Carleton College
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Physical Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Location
  • Carleton College Northfield, MN
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Setting
  • Carleton College Distant Town
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Carleton College 2,128
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Type
  • Carleton College Private 4 Year
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Carleton College #44
  • Davidson #32

Comparable Facts

Compare Carleton College in Northfield, MN with Davidson College in Davidson, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Carleton College is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (2,128 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Carleton College is located in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting); Davidson College is in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting).
  • Carleton College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Carleton College 8:1; Davidson College 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 2.8% lower than at Carleton College ($17,100 vs. $17,586).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Carleton College than at Davidson College (about $4,482 more per year; $68,892 vs. $64,410).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Carleton College (65% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 9.8% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($56,846 vs. $51,755).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Carleton College than at Davidson (33 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Carleton College and Davidson.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Carleton College Jan 15, 2027; Davidson Jan 7, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Carleton College average a 3.9 high school GPA, 0.09 higher than at Davidson (3.81).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 34.8% at Carleton College vs. 47.9% at Davidson.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Carleton College graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carleton College graduates ($175 vs. $201).
  • More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Davidson students, three years after graduation (92% vs. 89%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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