Carleton College vs. Princeton

Should I go to Carleton College or Princeton University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Carleton College or Princeton is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Carleton College vs. Princeton University comparison
Carleton College Princeton University College 3 College 4
Carleton College Princeton University
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Overview

Carleton College Princeton
Location Northfield, MN Princeton, NJ
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,059 8,842
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #39 #1
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website carleton.edu princeton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Carleton College Princeton
Tuition (In State) $62,244 $57,410
Tuition (Out of State) $62,244 $57,410
Room & Board $15,990 $18,630
Avg Net Price $31,494 $18,698
Avg Grant Aid $46,821 $59,792
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 61%

Admission

Carleton College Princeton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,583 38,019
Admitted 1,427 2,167
Acceptance Rate 16.6% 5.7%
Enrolled % 37.3% 69.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.9 3.93
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 32/35 33/35
SAT Range 1430/1550 1490/1580
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Jan 1, 2024

Academics

Carleton College Princeton
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • History (7%)
  • Human Services (7%)

Outcomes

Carleton College Princeton
Graduation Rate 93% 96%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,600 $113,900
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $7,500
Median Loan Payment $201 $77

Diversity

Carleton College Princeton
% Men 50% 53%
% Women 50% 47%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 45%
% Black 4% 8%
% Hispanic 7% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 10% 11%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Carleton College Princeton
% In-State 17% 16%
% Out-of-State 73% 69%

Campus

Carleton College Princeton
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Princeton University is larger than than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (8,842 students vs. 2,059 students)

Carleton College vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carleton College or Princeton?

  • Carleton College is 8.4% more expensive to attend than Princeton for in-state tuition ($62,244.00 vs. $57,410.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.4% higher at Carleton College than Princeton University ($62,244.00 vs. $57,410.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Princeton University than Carleton College ($18,698 vs. $31,494)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carleton College are 16.5% lower than costs at Princeton University ($15,990 vs. $18,630)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Princeton University than Carleton College (61% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 27.7% larger than aid received Carleton College ($59,792 vs. $46,821)

Carleton College vs. Princeton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carleton College or Princeton? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Princeton or Carleton College .

  • The average SAT score at Princeton University (1490) is 90 points higher than at Carleton College (1400)
  • Incoming Princeton students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Carleton College (31)
  • Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Carleton College (3.9)
  • Carleton College has a higher acceptance rate (16.6%) than Princeton (5.7%)

Carleton College vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Carleton College or Princeton? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Princeton and Carleton College.

  • The graduation rate at Princeton is higher than Carleton College (96% vs. 93%)
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn on average $48,300 more per year than Carleton College graduates after ten years. ($113,900 vs. $65,600)
  • Princeton University students graduate with a $12,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Carleton College graduates. ($7,500 vs. $19,500)
  • Princeton graduates are paying $124 less per month on federal student loans than Carleton College graduates. ($77 vs. $201)
  • More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/