Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Macalester College UChicago Grinnell Notre Dame Duke Vanderbilt WUSTL Johns Hopkins Cornell St Olaf Georgetown Michigan| Northwestern University | Carleton College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northwestern | Carleton College | ||
| Location | Evanston, IL | Northfield, MN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 23,161 | 2,059 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #15 | #39 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | northwestern.edu | carleton.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northwestern | Carleton College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,391 | $62,244 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,391 | $62,244 | ||
| Room & Board | $19,440 | $15,990 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,095 | $31,494 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $61,716 | $46,821 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 50% | 60% |
Admission |
Northwestern | Carleton College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 51,261 | 8,583 | ||
| Admitted | 3,695 | 1,427 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 7.2% | 16.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 55.2% | 37.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.92 | 3.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 33/35 | 32/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1570 | 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 | Jan 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Northwestern | Carleton College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 8:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Northwestern | Carleton College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 94% | 93% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $89,800 | $65,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 92% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,378 | $19,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $200 | $201 |
Diversity |
Northwestern | Carleton College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 50% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 50% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 50% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 8% | 10% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
Northwestern | Carleton College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 22% | 17% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 67% | 73% | ||
Campus |
Northwestern | Carleton College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northwestern University is larger than than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (23,161 students vs. 2,059 students)
Northwestern vs. Carleton College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or Carleton College?
- Northwestern University is 0.2% more expensive to attend than Carleton College for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $62,244.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.2% higher at Northwestern than Carleton College ($62,391.00 vs. $62,244.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern University than Carleton College ($22,095 vs. $31,494)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carleton College are 21.6% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($15,990 vs. $19,440)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Carleton College than Northwestern University (60% vs. 50%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 31.8% larger than aid received Carleton College ($61,716 vs. $46,821)
Northwestern vs. Carleton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern or Carleton College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Carleton College or Northwestern .
- The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 60 points higher than at Carleton College (1400)
- Incoming Northwestern students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Carleton College (31)
- Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Carleton College (3.9)
- Carleton College has a higher acceptance rate (16.6%) than Northwestern (7.2%)
Northwestern vs. Carleton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northwestern 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 Northwestern.
- The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than Carleton College (94% vs. 93%)
- Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $24,200 more per year than Carleton College graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $65,600)
- Northwestern University students graduate with a $122 lower median federal student loan debt than Carleton College graduates. ($19,378 vs. $19,500)
- Northwestern graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Carleton College graduates. ($200 vs. $201)
- More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 87%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/