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Minnesota Michigan Illinois Macalester College Ohio State Grinnell UW-Seattle Purdue Maryland UT Austin St Olaf IU| Carleton College | University of Wisconsin Madison | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Carleton College | Wisconsin | ||
| Location | Northfield, MN | Madison, WI | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,069 | 49,605 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #42 | #110 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | carleton.edu | wisc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Carleton College | Wisconsin | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $65,043 | $9,644 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,043 | $39,042 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,710 | $13,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,434 | $14,216 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $51,916 | $11,350 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 57% | 49% |
Admission |
Carleton College | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,464 | 63,505 | ||
| Admitted | 1,440 | 27,529 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 22.3% | 43.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.4% | 28.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.9 | 3.88 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1430/1550 | 1360/1510 | ||
| 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 | Wisconsin | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 8:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Carleton College | Wisconsin | ||
| Graduation Rate | 93% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $65,600 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 92% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,500 | $22,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $201 | $230 |
Diversity |
Carleton College | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Carleton College | Wisconsin | ||
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| % In-State | 21% | 48% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 67% | 44% | ||
Campus |
Carleton College | Wisconsin | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (49,605 students vs. 2,069 students)
Carleton College vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Carleton College or Wisconsin?
- Carleton College is 574.4% more expensive to attend than Wisconsin for in-state tuition ($65,043.00 vs. $9,644.00)
- Out of state tuition is 66.6% higher at Carleton College than University of Wisconsin Madison ($65,043.00 vs. $39,042.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Carleton College ($14,216 vs. $29,434)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 23.8% lower than costs at Carleton College ($13,500 vs. $16,710)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Carleton College than University of Wisconsin Madison (57% vs. 49%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 357.4% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Madison ($51,916 vs. $11,350)
Carleton College vs. Wisconsin Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Carleton College or Wisconsin? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wisconsin or Carleton College .
- The average SAT score at Carleton College (1400) is 100 points higher than at Wisconsin (1300)
- Incoming Carleton College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Wisconsin (29)
- Accepted freshman Carleton College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Wisconsin (3.88)
- Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (43.3%) than Carleton College (22.3%)
Carleton College vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Carleton College or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin and Carleton College.
- The graduation rate at Carleton College is higher than University of Wisconsin Madison (93% vs. 82%)
- Graduates from Carleton College earn on average $800 more per year than Wisconsin graduates after ten years. ($65,600 vs. $64,800)
- Carleton College students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Wisconsin graduates. ($19,500 vs. $22,250)
- Carleton College graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Wisconsin graduates. ($201 vs. $230)
- More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wisconsin students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 84%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/