Hillsdale College vs. Carleton College

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

Hillsdale College Carleton College
Location Hillsdale, Michigan Northfield, MN
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,678 2,059
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #39
Religious Affiliation Undenominational - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hillsdale.edu carleton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Hillsdale College Carleton College
Tuition (In State) $29,590 $62,244
Tuition (Out of State) $29,590 $62,244
Room & Board $12,500 $15,990
Avg Net Price $24,196 $31,494
Avg Grant Aid $21,093 $46,821
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 60%

Admission

Hillsdale College Carleton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,017 8,583
Admitted 621 1,427
Acceptance Rate 20.6% 16.6%
Enrolled % 62.3% 37.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.93 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 30/34 32/35
SAT Range 1360/1520 1430/1550
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 Mar 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Hillsdale College Carleton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Hillsdale College Carleton College
Graduation Rate - 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $65,600
Making Student Loan Payments - 92%
Median Student Loan Debt N/A $19,500
Median Loan Payment N/A $201

Diversity

Hillsdale College Carleton College
% Men 52% 50%
% Women 48% 50%
Racial Diversity - Medium
HBCU No No
% White 0% 63%
% Black 0% 4%
% Hispanic 0% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 0% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Hillsdale College Carleton College
% In-State 21% 17%
% Out-of-State 78% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Carleton College is larger than than Hillsdale College based on total student enrollment (2,059 students vs. 1,678 students)

Hillsdale College vs. Carleton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hillsdale College or Carleton College?

  • Carleton College is 110.4% more expensive to attend than Hillsdale College for in-state tuition ($62,244.00 vs. $29,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 110.4% higher at Carleton College than Hillsdale College ($62,244.00 vs. $29,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hillsdale College than Carleton College ($24,196 vs. $31,494)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hillsdale College are 27.9% lower than costs at Carleton College ($12,500 vs. $15,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hillsdale College than Carleton College (99% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 122% larger than aid received Hillsdale College ($46,821 vs. $21,093)

Hillsdale College vs. Carleton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Hillsdale College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Carleton College (3.9)
  • Hillsdale College has a higher acceptance rate (20.6%) than Carleton College (16.6%)

Hillsdale College vs. Carleton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

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