Northwestern vs. Carleton College

Should I go to Northwestern University or Carleton College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Northwestern or Carleton College 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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Northwestern University vs. Carleton College comparison
Northwestern University Carleton College College 3 College 4
Northwestern University Carleton College
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Overview

Northwestern Carleton College
Location Evanston, IL Northfield, MN
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 23,161 2,059
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #15 #39
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northwestern.edu carleton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northwestern Carleton College
Tuition (In State) $62,391 $62,244
Tuition (Out of State) $62,391 $62,244
Room & Board $19,440 $15,990
Avg Net Price $22,095 $31,494
Avg Grant Aid $61,716 $46,821
% Receiving Grant Aid 50% 60%

Admission

Northwestern Carleton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 51,261 8,583
Admitted 3,695 1,427
Acceptance Rate 7.2% 16.6%
Enrolled % 55.2% 37.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.92 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 33/35 32/35
SAT Range 1490/1570 1430/1550
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 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Northwestern Carleton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Northwestern Carleton College
Graduation Rate 94% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,800 $65,600
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,378 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $200 $201

Diversity

Northwestern Carleton College
% Men 46% 50%
% Women 54% 50%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 50% 63%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 8% 10%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Northwestern Carleton College
% In-State 22% 17%
% Out-of-State 67% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northwestern University is larger than than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (23,161 students vs. 2,059 students)

Northwestern vs. Carleton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or Carleton College?

  • Northwestern University is 0.2% more expensive to attend than Carleton College for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $62,244.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.2% higher at Northwestern than Carleton College ($62,391.00 vs. $62,244.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern University than Carleton College ($22,095 vs. $31,494)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carleton College are 21.6% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($15,990 vs. $19,440)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carleton College than Northwestern University (60% vs. 50%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 31.8% larger than aid received Carleton College ($61,716 vs. $46,821)

Northwestern vs. Carleton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 60 points higher than at Carleton College (1400)
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Carleton College (31)
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Carleton College (3.9)
  • Carleton College has a higher acceptance rate (16.6%) than Northwestern (7.2%)

Northwestern vs. Carleton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northwestern or Carleton College? 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 Carleton College and Northwestern.

  • The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than Carleton College (94% vs. 93%)
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $24,200 more per year than Carleton College graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $65,600)
  • Northwestern University students graduate with a $122 lower median federal student loan debt than Carleton College graduates. ($19,378 vs. $19,500)
  • Northwestern graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Carleton College graduates. ($200 vs. $201)
  • More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 87%)

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