Carleton College vs. Viterbo

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

Carleton College Viterbo
Location Northfield, MN La Crosse, WI
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 2,069 2,301
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #42 #520
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website carleton.edu viterbo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Carleton College Viterbo
Tuition (In State) $65,043 $31,600
Tuition (Out of State) $65,043 $31,600
Room & Board $16,710 $10,680
Avg Net Price $29,434 $23,901
Avg Grant Aid $51,916 $20,319
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 100%

Admission

Carleton College Viterbo
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,464 1,399
Admitted 1,440 1,025
Acceptance Rate 22.3% 73.3%
Enrolled % 37.4% 24.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.9 3.5
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Challenging
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 32/34 22/27
SAT Range 1430/1550 1040/1380
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

Academics

Carleton College Viterbo
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Health Professions (38%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Carleton College Viterbo
Graduation Rate 93% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,600 $44,300
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $201 $279

Diversity

Carleton College Viterbo
% Men 1% 7%
% Women 1% 30%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 89%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 10% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Carleton College Viterbo
% In-State 21% 65%
% Out-of-State 67% 32%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Viterbo University is larger than than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (2,301 students vs. 2,069 students)

Carleton College vs. Viterbo Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carleton College or Viterbo?

  • Carleton College is 105.8% more expensive to attend than Viterbo for in-state tuition ($65,043.00 vs. $31,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 105.8% higher at Carleton College than Viterbo University ($65,043.00 vs. $31,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Viterbo University than Carleton College ($23,901 vs. $29,434)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Viterbo University are 56.5% lower than costs at Carleton College ($10,680 vs. $16,710)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Viterbo University than Carleton College (100% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 155.5% larger than aid received Viterbo University ($51,916 vs. $20,319)

Carleton College vs. Viterbo Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Carleton College (1400) is 310 points higher than at Viterbo (1090)
  • Incoming Carleton College students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Viterbo (24)
  • Accepted freshman Carleton College students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Viterbo (3.5)
  • Viterbo has a higher acceptance rate (73.3%) than Carleton College (22.3%)

Carleton College vs. Viterbo Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Carleton College or Viterbo? 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 Viterbo and Carleton College.

  • The graduation rate at Carleton College is higher than Viterbo University (93% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Carleton College earn on average $21,300 more per year than Viterbo graduates after ten years. ($65,600 vs. $44,300)
  • Carleton College students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Viterbo graduates. ($19,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Carleton College graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Viterbo graduates. ($201 vs. $279)
  • More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Viterbo students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 68%)

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