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Macalester College Grinnell St Olaf Skidmore College Lafayette College St Lawrence University Trinity College Colgate Dickinson College RPI Hamilton College Oberlin| Carleton College | Union College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Carleton College | Union College | ||
| Location | Northfield, MN | Schenectady, NY | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,069 | 2,082 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #42 | #87 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | carleton.edu | union.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Carleton College | Union College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $65,043 | $66,105 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,043 | $66,105 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,710 | $16,389 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,434 | $42,884 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $51,916 | $38,751 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 57% | 94% |
Admission |
Carleton College | Union College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,464 | 9,295 | ||
| Admitted | 1,440 | 4,070 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 22.3% | 43.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.4% | 13.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.9 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 30/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1430/1550 | 1310/1480 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Carleton College | Union College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 8:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Carleton College | Union College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 93% | 86% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $65,600 | $74,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 92% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,500 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $201 | $279 |
Diversity |
Carleton College | Union College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 1% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 10% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Carleton College | Union College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 21% | 28% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 67% | 63% | ||
Campus |
Carleton College | Union College | ||
| 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
- Union College is larger than than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (2,082 students vs. 2,069 students)
Carleton College vs. Union College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Carleton College or Union College?
- Union College is 1.6% more expensive to attend than Carleton College for in-state tuition ($66,105.00 vs. $65,043.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.6% higher at Union College than Carleton College ($66,105.00 vs. $65,043.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carleton College than Union College ($29,434 vs. $42,884)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 2% lower than costs at Carleton College ($16,389 vs. $16,710)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Union College than Carleton College (94% vs. 57%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 34% larger than aid received Union College ($51,916 vs. $38,751)
Carleton College vs. Union College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Carleton College or Union College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Union College or Carleton College .
- Accepted freshman Carleton College students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Union College (3.5)
- Union College has a higher acceptance rate (43.8%) than Carleton College (22.3%)
Carleton College vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Carleton College or Union 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 Union College and Carleton College.
- The graduation rate at Carleton College is higher than Union College (93% vs. 86%)
- Graduates from Union College earn on average $8,600 more per year than Carleton College graduates after ten years. ($74,200 vs. $65,600)
- Carleton College students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Union College graduates. ($19,500 vs. $27,000)
- Carleton College graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Union College graduates. ($201 vs. $279)
- More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Union College students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 86%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/