Carleton College vs. Fisk University

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

Carleton College Fisk University
Location Northfield, MN Nashville, TN
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 2,069 1,005
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #42 #600
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website carleton.edu fisk.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Carleton College Fisk University
Tuition (In State) $65,043 $22,320
Tuition (Out of State) $65,043 $22,320
Room & Board $16,710 $11,698
Avg Net Price $29,434 $19,836
Avg Grant Aid $51,916 $20,400
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 96%

Admission

Carleton College Fisk University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,464 7,982
Admitted 1,440 4,622
Acceptance Rate 22.3% 57.9%
Enrolled % 37.4% 6.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.9 3.1
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Elite Challenging
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 32/34 20/25
SAT Range 1430/1550 1160/1480
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, 2026 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Carleton College Fisk University
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Psychology (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)

Outcomes

Carleton College Fisk University
Graduation Rate 93% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,600 $35,900
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $201 $268

Diversity

Carleton College Fisk University
% Men 1% 1%
% Women 1% 4%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 63% 1%
% Black 4% 88%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 1%
% International 10% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 6%

Students

Carleton College Fisk University
% In-State 21% 30%
% Out-of-State 67% 57%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Carleton College is larger than than Fisk University based on total student enrollment (2,069 students vs. 1,005 students)

Carleton College vs. Fisk University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carleton College or Fisk University?

  • Carleton College is 191.4% more expensive to attend than Fisk University for in-state tuition ($65,043.00 vs. $22,320.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 191.4% higher at Carleton College than Fisk University ($65,043.00 vs. $22,320.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fisk University than Carleton College ($19,836 vs. $29,434)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fisk University are 42.8% lower than costs at Carleton College ($11,698 vs. $16,710)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fisk University than Carleton College (96% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 154.5% larger than aid received Fisk University ($51,916 vs. $20,400)

Carleton College vs. Fisk University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Carleton College (1400) is 463 points higher than at Fisk University (937)
  • Incoming Carleton College students have a 11 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Fisk University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Carleton College students have a 0.8 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Fisk University (3.1)
  • Fisk University has a higher acceptance rate (57.9%) than Carleton College (22.3%)

Carleton College vs. Fisk University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Carleton College or Fisk University? 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 Fisk University and Carleton College.

  • The graduation rate at Carleton College is higher than Fisk University (93% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Carleton College earn on average $29,700 more per year than Fisk University graduates after ten years. ($65,600 vs. $35,900)
  • Carleton College students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Fisk University graduates. ($19,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Carleton College graduates are paying $67 less per month on federal student loans than Fisk University graduates. ($201 vs. $268)
  • More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fisk University students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 38%)

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