Carleton College vs. Wisconsin

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

Carleton College Wisconsin
Location Northfield, MN Madison, WI
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 2,059 48,956
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #39 #105
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website carleton.edu wisc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Carleton College Wisconsin
Tuition (In State) $62,244 $9,273
Tuition (Out of State) $62,244 $37,904
Room & Board $15,990 $12,894
Avg Net Price $31,494 $13,376
Avg Grant Aid $46,821 $11,171
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 47%

Admission

Carleton College Wisconsin
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,583 60,214
Admitted 1,427 29,539
Acceptance Rate 16.6% 49.1%
Enrolled % 37.3% 29.2%
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 32/35 26/32
SAT Range 1430/1550 1340/1510
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, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Carleton College Wisconsin
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

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 50% 47%
% Women 50% 53%
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
% In-State 17% 43%
% Out-of-State 73% 47%

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 (48,956 students vs. 2,059 students)

Carleton College vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carleton College or Wisconsin?

  • Carleton College is 571.2% more expensive to attend than Wisconsin for in-state tuition ($62,244.00 vs. $9,273.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.2% higher at Carleton College than University of Wisconsin Madison ($62,244.00 vs. $37,904.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Carleton College ($13,376 vs. $31,494)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 24% lower than costs at Carleton College ($12,894 vs. $15,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carleton College than University of Wisconsin Madison (60% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 319.1% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Madison ($46,821 vs. $11,171)

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 (49.1%) than Carleton College (16.6%)

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/