Wheaton College vs. Carleton College

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

Wheaton College Carleton College
Location Wheaton, IL Northfield, MN
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 2,885 2,059
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #166 #39
Religious Affiliation Undenominational - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wheaton.edu carleton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wheaton College Carleton College
Tuition (In State) $41,990 $62,244
Tuition (Out of State) $41,990 $62,244
Room & Board $11,690 $15,990
Avg Net Price $29,961 $31,494
Avg Grant Aid $24,272 $46,821
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 60%

Admission

Wheaton College Carleton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,893 8,583
Admitted 1,674 1,427
Acceptance Rate 88.4% 16.6%
Enrolled % 30.1% 37.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 28/33 32/35
SAT Range 1250/1430 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 Aug 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Wheaton College Carleton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Wheaton College Carleton College
Graduation Rate 87% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $65,600
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $232 $201

Diversity

Wheaton College Carleton College
% Men 43% 50%
% Women 57% 50%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 63%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 3% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Wheaton College Carleton College
% In-State 23% 17%
% Out-of-State 70% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Wheaton College is larger than than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 2,059 students)

Wheaton College vs. Carleton College Cost Comparison

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

  • Carleton College is 48.2% more expensive to attend than Wheaton College for in-state tuition ($62,244.00 vs. $41,990.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 48.2% higher at Carleton College than Wheaton College ($62,244.00 vs. $41,990.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wheaton College than Carleton College ($29,961 vs. $31,494)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wheaton College are 36.8% lower than costs at Carleton College ($11,690 vs. $15,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wheaton College than Carleton College (100% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 92.9% larger than aid received Wheaton College ($46,821 vs. $24,272)

Wheaton College vs. Carleton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Carleton College (1400) is 86 points higher than at Wheaton College (1314)
  • Incoming Carleton College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Wheaton College (30)
  • Accepted freshman Carleton College students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Wheaton College (3.75)
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than Carleton College (16.6%)

Wheaton College vs. Carleton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wheaton 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 Wheaton College.

  • The graduation rate at Carleton College is higher than Wheaton College (93% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Carleton College earn on average $11,300 more per year than Wheaton College graduates after ten years. ($65,600 vs. $54,300)
  • Carleton College students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Wheaton College graduates. ($19,500 vs. $22,500)
  • Carleton College graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Wheaton College graduates. ($201 vs. $232)
  • More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wheaton College students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 90%)

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