Carleton is a small, well-regarded liberal arts school in Northfield, Minnesota, an hour outside of Minneapolis. It characterizes the student learning experience as deep and dynamic, with opportunity for personal growth and learning both in and out of the classroom.
The college prides itself on fostering an inclusive environment where students from all walks of life can thrive: Carls come from more than 50 different countries, and 16% of the Class of 2027 are first-generation college students.
The student body, which is all undergrads, is about 2,000 students. Consequently, classes tend to be small, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1, and professors are accessible to students in the off hours. Carleton says its campus is designed as “an active learning and living environment,” with the vast majority of students living on campus. About 4 in 5 students hold down an on-campus job while completing their academic coursework.
Outside of work and studying, there’s plenty to keep students busy. There are more than 200 student organizations, including a radio station and a weekly newspaper, and many students participate in sports, whether it's more traditional teams, like soccer and basketball, or some of the campus’s less familiar squads, like ultimate Frisbee or competitive ballroom dancing.
The estimated net price of a degree at Carleton is higher than average at roughly $235,750 (before factoring in state and federal aid), but the school scores well in Money’s ranking of education quality, and students’ median earnings four years after graduation are higher than the baseline, according to the College Scorecard.
