Carleton College vs. Washington and Lee

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

Carleton College Washington and Lee
Location Northfield, MN Lexington, VA
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 2,059 2,243
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #39 #30
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website carleton.edu wlu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Carleton College Washington and Lee
Tuition (In State) $62,244 $60,590
Tuition (Out of State) $62,244 $60,590
Room & Board $15,990 $16,920
Avg Net Price $31,494 $24,733
Avg Grant Aid $46,821 $55,567
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 61%

Admission

Carleton College Washington and Lee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,583 7,224
Admitted 1,427 1,225
Acceptance Rate 16.6% 17%
Enrolled % 37.3% 38.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.9 3.87
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 32/35 32/34
SAT Range 1430/1550 1410/1533
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 1, 2025

Academics

Carleton College Washington and Lee
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

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 50% 49%
% Women 50% 51%
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 17% 18%
% Out-of-State 73% 73%

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 (2,243 students vs. 2,059 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 ($62,244.00 vs. $60,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.7% higher at Carleton College than Washington and Lee University ($62,244.00 vs. $60,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington and Lee University than Carleton College ($24,733 vs. $31,494)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carleton College are 5.8% lower than costs at Washington and Lee University ($15,990 vs. $16,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Washington and Lee University than Carleton College (61% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 18.7% larger than aid received Carleton College ($55,567 vs. $46,821)

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)
  • Washington and Lee has a higher acceptance rate (17%) than Carleton College (16.6%)

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/