Carleton College vs. Creighton University

Deciding between Carleton College and Creighton University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Carleton College
Creighton University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Carleton College Northfield, MN
  • Creighton University Omaha, NE
  • Setting
  • Carleton College Distant Town
  • Creighton University Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Carleton College 2,128
  • Creighton University 8,581
  • Type
  • Carleton College Private 4 Year
  • Creighton University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Carleton College #44
  • Creighton University #134
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Carleton College -
  • Creighton University Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Carleton College Non-profit
  • Creighton University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Carleton College
  • Creighton University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Carleton College $68,892
  • Creighton University $48,856
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Carleton College $68,892
  • Creighton University $48,856
  • Room & Board
  • Carleton College $17,586
  • Creighton University $13,652
  • Average Net Price
  • Carleton College $28,047
  • Creighton University $32,636
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Carleton College $56,846
  • Creighton University $30,913
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Carleton College 59%
  • Creighton University 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Carleton College 7,133
  • Creighton University 7,907
  • Admitted
  • Carleton College 1,456
  • Creighton University 6,306
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Carleton College 20.4%
  • Creighton University 79.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Carleton College 34.8%
  • Creighton University 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Carleton College 1510
  • Creighton University 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Carleton College 33
  • Creighton University 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Carleton College 3.9
  • Creighton University 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Carleton College A
  • Creighton University A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Carleton College Elite
  • Creighton University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Carleton College Very High
  • Creighton University
  • ACT Range
  • Carleton College 32/34
  • Creighton University 26/31
  • SAT Range
  • Carleton College 1450/1560
  • Creighton University 1243/1428
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Carleton College Test optional
  • Creighton University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Carleton College Jan 15, 2027
  • Creighton University
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Carleton College 8:1
  • Creighton University 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Carleton College
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Physical Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Creighton University
    • Health Professions (25%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Carleton College 93%
  • Creighton University 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Carleton College $65,600
  • Creighton University $66,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Carleton College 92%
  • Creighton University 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Carleton College $19,500
  • Creighton University $25,332
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Carleton College $201
  • Creighton University $261
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Carleton College 49%
  • Creighton University 41%
  • % Women
  • Carleton College 51%
  • Creighton University 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Carleton College Medium
  • Creighton University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Carleton College No
  • Creighton University No
  • % White
  • Carleton College 63%
  • Creighton University 71%
  • % Asian
  • Carleton College 8%
  • Creighton University 10%
  • % Black
  • Carleton College 4%
  • Creighton University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Carleton College 7%
  • Creighton University 8%
  • % Native American
  • Carleton College 0%
  • Creighton University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Carleton College 0%
  • Creighton University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Carleton College 5%
  • Creighton University 4%
  • % International
  • Carleton College 10%
  • Creighton University 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Carleton College 2%
  • Creighton University 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Carleton College 19%
  • Creighton University 24%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Carleton College 70%
  • Creighton University 74%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Carleton College Yes
  • Creighton University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Carleton College Yes
  • Creighton University No
  • Meal Plan
  • Carleton College Yes
  • Creighton University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Carleton College No
  • Creighton University No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Carleton College No
  • Creighton University Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Carleton College in Northfield, MN with Creighton University in Omaha, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Creighton University is larger than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (8,581 students vs. 2,128 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Carleton College is located in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting); Creighton University is in Omaha, NE (Large City setting).
  • Carleton College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Creighton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Carleton College 8:1; Creighton University 11:1.

Carleton College vs. Creighton University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carleton College or Creighton University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carleton College than Creighton University ($28,047 vs. $32,636).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Creighton University are 22.4% lower than at Carleton College ($13,652 vs. $17,586).
  • Carleton College is 41% more expensive for in-state tuition than Creighton University (about $20,036 more per year; $68,892.00 vs. $48,856.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41% higher at Carleton College than at Creighton University (about $20,036 more per year; $68,892.00 vs. $48,856.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Creighton University than at Carleton College (100% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 83.9% larger than aid received by Creighton University students ($56,846 vs. $30,913).

Carleton College vs. Creighton University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carleton College or Creighton University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Creighton University and Carleton College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carleton College (1510) is 170 points higher than at Creighton University (1340).
  • Incoming Carleton College students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at Creighton University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carleton College 1450/1560; Creighton University 1243/1428.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carleton College 32/34; Creighton University 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carleton College - Test optional; Creighton University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Carleton College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Carleton College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Creighton University (3.84).
  • Creighton University has a higher acceptance rate (79.8%) than Carleton College (20.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 34.8% at Carleton College vs. 17.9% at Creighton University.

Carleton College vs. Creighton University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carleton College and Creighton University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Carleton College's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Creighton University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Creighton University earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Carleton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,600 vs. $65,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Carleton College graduates have a $5,832 lower median loan debt than Creighton University graduates ($19,500 vs. $25,332).
  • Among borrowers, Carleton College graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Creighton University graduates ($201 vs. $261).
  • More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Creighton University students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.