Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Macalester College Grinnell William & Mary Davidson University of Richmond UVA St Olaf Lehigh Emory Hamilton College Villanova Colgate| Carleton College | Washington and Lee University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Carleton College | Washington and Lee | ||
| Location | Northfield, MN | Lexington, VA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 2,069 | 2,277 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #42 | #28 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | carleton.edu | wlu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Carleton College | Washington and Lee | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $65,043 | $63,315 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,043 | $63,315 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,710 | $17,685 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,434 | $24,667 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $51,916 | $58,323 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 57% | 63% |
Admission |
Carleton College | Washington and Lee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,464 | 6,820 | ||
| Admitted | 1,440 | 1,184 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 22.3% | 17.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 37.4% | 42.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.9 | 3.87 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 32/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1430/1550 | 1410/1530 | ||
| 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 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Carleton College | Washington and Lee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 8:1 | 8:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Carleton College | Washington and Lee | ||
| Graduation Rate | 93% | 91% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $65,600 | $89,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 92% | 88% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,500 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $201 | $222 |
Diversity |
Carleton College | Washington and Lee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
Carleton College | Washington and Lee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 21% | 17% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 67% | 75% | ||
Campus |
Carleton College | Washington and Lee | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Washington and Lee University is larger than than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (2,277 students vs. 2,069 students)
Carleton College vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Carleton College or Washington and Lee?
- Carleton College is 2.7% more expensive to attend than Washington and Lee for in-state tuition ($65,043.00 vs. $63,315.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.7% higher at Carleton College than Washington and Lee University ($65,043.00 vs. $63,315.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington and Lee University than Carleton College ($24,667 vs. $29,434)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carleton College are 5.8% lower than costs at Washington and Lee University ($16,710 vs. $17,685)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Washington and Lee University than Carleton College (63% vs. 57%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 12.3% larger than aid received Carleton College ($58,323 vs. $51,916)
Carleton College vs. Washington and Lee Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Carleton College or Washington and Lee? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Washington and Lee or Carleton College .
- The average SAT score at Carleton College (1400) is 5 points higher than at Washington and Lee (1395)
- Incoming Washington and Lee students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Carleton College (31)
- Accepted freshman Carleton College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Washington and Lee (3.87)
- Carleton College has a higher acceptance rate (22.3%) than Washington and Lee (17.4%)
Carleton College vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Carleton College or Washington and Lee? 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 Washington and Lee and Carleton College.
- The graduation rate at Carleton College is higher than Washington and Lee University (93% vs. 91%)
- Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn on average $23,400 more per year than Carleton College graduates after ten years. ($89,000 vs. $65,600)
- Carleton College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Washington and Lee graduates. ($19,500 vs. $21,500)
- Carleton College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Washington and Lee graduates. ($201 vs. $222)
- More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Washington and Lee students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 88%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/