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Northfield, MN · Private · 2,086 students

What are Carleton College’s admission requirements?

Carleton College admits 20.4% of applicants. Here’s what to send, who got in, and where you stand.

Carleton College campus
20.4%admitted

What to send.

  • Common App
  • Personal essay
  • 3 recommendation letters
  • SAT or ACTOptional

When to apply.

  • Early DecisionNovember 15, 2026
  • Early Decision IIJanuary 15, 2027
  • Regular DecisionJanuary 15, 2027

Early Decision is binding. Use it only for a clear first choice.

Admitted class · 2024

Here’s the class that got in.

Acceptance rate
20.4%
SAT middle 50%
1450–1560median 1479
ACT middle 50%
32–34median 33
Testing
Optional37% sent an SAT

Your chances

What are your chances at Carleton College?

See where your GPA and scores land in the class that got in.

Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Reported by the college

What does Carleton College weigh most?

Put your effort where it counts here.

  • Very important

    • Course rigor
    • Essay
    • Recommendations

  • Considered

    • Grades
    • Class rank
    • Test scores
    • Legacy
    • Work experience

From the federal IPEDS admissions survey, 2024. It records whether Carleton College considers each part, not how heavily.

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Carleton College admissions, answered.

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