Carleton College Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

Carleton College, established in 1866, is a top liberal arts college in Minnesota known for academic rigor and quirky traditions. The college's trimester system allows intensive study across disciplines. Carleton's strengths include STEM, humanities, and off-campus study programs. The campus features the Weitz Center for Creativity and Cowling Arboretum.

Carleton's alumni include MacArthur ??enius grant winners and tech innovators. The college's collaborative culture and Minnesota's natural beauty inspire intellectual curiosity. Its blend of challenge and support defines the Carleton experience.

Carleton College Acceptance Rate

Carleton College Admission Requirements

Carleton College GPA Requirement

The average GPA of the admitted students at Carleton College is 3.9. This indicates extreme selectivity in admissions.

To have strong chances, you must aim for straight A’s in all courses.

If your GPA is between 3.6 and 3.9, then you need a high SAT or ACT score to compensate.

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Carleton College SAT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. For the 2026 academic cycle, the landscape of standardized testing has shifted back toward Test-Required policies at the majority of highly selective and Ivy+ institutions. Following a multi-year "Test-Optional" pilot, data-driven results have led universities like Harvard, Yale, Brown, and the University of Texas at Austin to reinstate the SAT and ACT as mandatory components of the application.

In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2025 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.

Carleton College Average SAT Score: 1491
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Carleton College is 1491 on the 1600 SAT scale.

SAT Competitiveness

This score makes it very Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to do very well to score 1491 on the SAT.

Key Insight:Aim for the 75th percentile (1550 SAT or 34 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. Carleton College allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.

If your score is below 1430, you must retake the SAT to improve your chances of admission to Carleton College. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.

SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
SAT Math	755	720	790
SAT Reading	735	710	760
SAT Composite	1491	1430	1550

It means that if you have scored less than 1430 then you are below most of the admitted students at Carleton College and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1550 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1500

Can I get into Carleton College with a 1550 SAT?

With a 1550 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Carleton College are good but the admission staff at Carleton College tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.

Carleton College ACT Requirements

The average ACT Score at Carleton College is 33.

ACT Competitiveness

This score makes Carleton College very Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do very well to score 33 on the ACT.

ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
ACT Math	32	29	34
ACT English	34	33	35
ACT Composite	33	32	34

Can I get into Carleton College with a 34 ACT?

With a 34 ACT Score, your chances of admission at Carleton College are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.

View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 33.

Carleton College Profile

Name: Carleton College

Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)

How much does a degree from Carleton College Cost?

The average annual cost of the degree at Carleton College is USD: 81350. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Carleton College is much less than this.

How can I get a scholarship?

14.04% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 43.42 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Carleton College and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.

At Carleton College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Carleton College as your choice in the form.

How much a Carleton College Graduate make?

The average annual salary of the graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 75525. An average Carleton College graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).

The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Northeastern University Oakland	Northeastern University Oakland, CA	1472	32
Occidental College	Occidental College, CA	1461	33
Scripps College	Scripps College, CA	1480	33
Colorado College	Colorado College, CO	1445	33
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, GA	1447	31
Tulane University of Louisiana	Tulane University of Louisiana, LA	1443	32
Bates College	Bates College, ME	1446	32
University of Maryland-College Park	University of Maryland-College Park, MD	1463	34
Boston University	Boston University, MA	1473	33
Brandeis University	Brandeis University, MA	1473	33

School	Location	SAT	ACT
University of Southern California	University of Southern California, CA	1501	34
Georgetown University	Georgetown University, DC	1494	33
Grinnell College	Grinnell College, IA	1486	33
Colby College	Colby College, ME	1500	33
Amherst College	Amherst College, MA	1494	33

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Harvey Mudd College	Harvey Mudd College, CA	1537	35
Yale University	Yale University, CT	1534	34
University of Chicago	University of Chicago, IL	1554	35
Northwestern University	Northwestern University, IL	1526	34
Johns Hopkins University	Johns Hopkins University, MD	1553	35

Degree Programs

Bachelor Degree Programs

• Archeology
• Area Studies
• Biology, General
• Chemistry
• Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
• Cognitive Science
• Computer Science
• Dance
• Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
• East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Frequently Asked Questions About Carleton College Admissions

Full list of All degree programs offered by Carleton College.

Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2025, US Department of Education's latest 2025 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.

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