Caltech vs. Carleton College

Should I go to California Institute of Technology or Carleton College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Caltech 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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California Institute of Technology vs. Carleton College comparison
California Institute of Technology Carleton College College 3 College 4
California Institute of Technology Carleton College
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Overview

Caltech Carleton College
Location Pasadena, CA Northfield, MN
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 2,401 2,059
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #5 #39
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website caltech.edu carleton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Caltech Carleton College
Tuition (In State) $58,479 $62,244
Tuition (Out of State) $58,479 $62,244
Room & Board $18,606 $15,990
Avg Net Price $20,755 $31,494
Avg Grant Aid $59,192 $46,821
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 60%

Admission

Caltech Carleton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,626 8,583
Admitted 448 1,427
Acceptance Rate 2.7% 16.6%
Enrolled % 50% 37.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 35/36 32/35
SAT Range 1530/1580 1430/1550
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 3, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Caltech Carleton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 3:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Physical Sciences (25%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (11%)
  • Mathematics (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Caltech Carleton College
Graduation Rate 87% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $85,800 $65,600
Making Student Loan Payments - 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,350 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $148 $201

Diversity

Caltech Carleton College
% Men 61% 50%
% Women 39% 50%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 27% 63%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 8% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Caltech Carleton College
% In-State 29% 17%
% Out-of-State 58% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • California Institute of Technology is larger than than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (2,401 students vs. 2,059 students)

Caltech vs. Carleton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Caltech or Carleton College?

  • Carleton College is 6.4% more expensive to attend than Caltech for in-state tuition ($62,244.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.4% higher at Carleton College than California Institute of Technology ($62,244.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Institute of Technology than Carleton College ($20,755 vs. $31,494)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carleton College are 16.4% lower than costs at California Institute of Technology ($15,990 vs. $18,606)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carleton College than California Institute of Technology (60% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of Technology students is 26.4% larger than aid received Carleton College ($59,192 vs. $46,821)

Caltech vs. Carleton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at California Institute of Technology (1544) is 144 points higher than at Carleton College (1400)
  • Incoming Caltech students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (35) than students at Carleton College (31)
  • Accepted freshman Caltech students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Carleton College (3.9)
  • Carleton College has a higher acceptance rate (16.6%) than Caltech (2.7%)

Caltech vs. Carleton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Caltech 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 Caltech.

  • The graduation rate at Carleton College is higher than California Institute of Technology (93% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from California Institute of Technology earn on average $20,200 more per year than Carleton College graduates after ten years. ($85,800 vs. $65,600)
  • California Institute of Technology students graduate with a $5,150 lower median federal student loan debt than Carleton College graduates. ($14,350 vs. $19,500)
  • Caltech graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than Carleton College graduates. ($148 vs. $201)

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