Carleton College & Grinnell College -- Research Notes

carleton_grinnell.md

Carleton College & Grinnell College -- Research Notes

Carleton College

  • Type: Private liberal arts college (NCAA D-III, MIAC)
  • Location: Northfield, MN
  • Overall acceptance rate: 20.4% (Class of 2029 cycle, 7,449 applicants)
  • ED acceptance rate: 38.8% combined ED1+ED2 (637 ED applicants, 247 admitted)
  • SAT middle 50: 1470-1540 (EBRW 720-770, Math 730-790)
  • ACT middle 50: 32-35
  • Yield: 35% (507 enrolled of ~1,456 admitted)
  • Class size: 518 (Class of 2029)
  • Total undergrad enrollment: 2,128
  • Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)
  • GPA: Average ~3.9 unweighted; 65% in top 10% of high school class
  • Trimester system: 3 terms per year (unusual among peers)

Demographics (2024-2025)

  • White: 51.5%, Asian: 10.3%, Black: 6.8%, Hispanic: 9.9%, International: 11.8%, Multiracial: 9.0%
  • Women: 51%
  • First-generation: 13%
  • Students from 44 states and 17 countries

Financial Aid

  • Meets 100% of demonstrated need
  • Net price by income (IPEDS, Title IV recipients):
  • $0-30K: $9,579
  • $30K-48K: $9,358
  • $48K-75K: $16,716
  • $75K-110K: $23,290
  • $110K+: $43,700

Athletics

  • 506 student-athletes across 18 varsity sports (D-III, MIAC)
  • ~23.8% of undergraduate enrollment
  • Sports include football, soccer, cross country, swimming, tennis, track & field, basketball

Simulation Notes

  • Category: top_lac -- consistently ranked among top 5-10 liberal arts colleges nationally
  • ED combined rate (~39%) is nearly 2x the overall rate -- moderate ED boost
  • Remote Minnesota location contributes to lower yield (~35%) despite strong academics
  • Trimester system and strong STEM programs are distinctive features
  • Student-faculty ratio 9:1, 72% of classes under 20 students

Grinnell College

  • Type: Private liberal arts college (NCAA D-III, Midwest Conference)
  • Location: Grinnell, IA
  • Overall acceptance rate: 14.5% (Class of 2028 cycle, 9,758 applicants)
  • ED acceptance rate: ~41% ED1 (728 ED applicants total, 297 admitted); ED1 rate was 48% for Class of 2029
  • SAT middle 50: 1430-1520 (EBRW 720-770, Math 730-790)
  • ACT middle 50: 32-35
  • Yield: 36% (438 enrolled of ~1,416 admitted)
  • Class size: 450 (Class of 2028)
  • Total undergrad enrollment: 1,788
  • Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)
  • GPA: Average ~3.89 unweighted; 68% in top 10% of high school class
  • Self-governance: Student-run governing body since 1871; open curriculum with no distribution requirements

Demographics (2024-2025)

  • White: 48.0%, Asian: 9.5%, Black: 5.1%, Hispanic: 8.2%, International: 19.5%, Multiracial: 5.6%
  • Women: 54%
  • First-generation: 17%
  • 20% international students from 42 countries
  • 57% of incoming class identify as people of color or international students

Financial Aid

  • No-loan policy: one of fewer than 10 US colleges that are need-blind, meet 100% of need, and replace all loans with grants
  • Average financial aid package: $67,476
  • Net price by income (IPEDS, Title IV recipients):
  • $0-30K: $11,945
  • $30K-48K: $14,818
  • $48K-75K: $12,486
  • $75K-110K: $22,085
  • $110K+: $35,934
  • $2.2B endowment (~$1.2M per student) supports generous aid

Athletics

  • 542 student-athletes across 20 varsity sports (D-III, Midwest Conference)
  • ~30.3% of undergraduate enrollment
  • 24% of incoming class are recruited varsity athletes

Simulation Notes

  • Category: top_lac -- more selective than Carleton (14.5% vs 20.4%)
  • Very high international enrollment (19.5%) -- notable for simulation diversity modeling
  • No-loan policy is a strong yield driver for lower-income students
  • ED rate (~41-48%) is ~3x the overall rate -- strong ED boost
  • $48K-75K net cost is anomalously low ($12,486 < $14,818 for $30K-48K bracket) -- likely a data quirk in IPEDS reporting
  • Open curriculum (no distribution requirements) similar to Brown and Amherst
  • Rural Iowa location similar to Carleton's rural Minnesota -- both face yield challenges from location

Comparison Summary

Metric Carleton Grinnell
Acceptance rate 20.4% 14.5%
ED rate 38.8% ~41-48%
SAT middle 50 1470-1540 1430-1520
ACT middle 50 32-35 32-35
Yield 35% 36%
Class size 518 450
International % 11.8% 19.5%
Athlete % 23.8% 30.3%
No-loan No Yes

Both are top Midwest LACs with similar academic profiles but Grinnell is more selective and has a distinctively generous financial aid program. Carleton has a slightly higher SAT range but lower selectivity due to a smaller applicant pool.

Sources

  • Carleton Class of 2029 Profile (carleton.edu)
  • Grinnell Class of 2028 Profile (grinnell.edu)
  • BigFuture College Board (2024-2025 CDS data)
  • College Factual (net price by income, demographics)
  • AdmissionsConsultants (ED rates, yield)
  • The Carletonian (ED admissions reporting)
  • The Scarlet & Black (Grinnell ED reporting)