# Carleton College SAT Scores & Admissions | 1600.now Source: https://1600.now/college/carleton-college Last updated: 2026-07-17 --- Written by [Luke Finigan](https://1600.now/about) Northfield, MN · Private non-profit · Liberal arts / baccalaureate college SAT middle 50% (historical enrolled scores): 1450–1560 · Range midpoint ~1510 Acceptance rate: 20% Enrollment: 2,086 ACT middle 50%: 32–34 The figures above are the stored federal Scorecard snapshot, imported April 25, 2026. Its fields can cover different reporting years. Current university profiles below can describe a different cohort or applicant group. ### Current admissions guidance for Carleton College Carleton is a highly selective private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, with a reported 1450–1560 SAT middle-50% range in the federal College Scorecard snapshot. Its Fall 2027 application remains test-optional. #### SAT/ACT policy Carleton does not require Fall 2027 applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores. Students who choose to report testing can self-report results during the application process. #### Application deadlines Carleton offers Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision. Applicants should confirm the current cycle's exact dates on the college's official deadline page before submitting. #### How to use your SAT score - A score within or above 1450–1560 can reinforce preparation for a highly selective review. - Applicants may omit scores that do not represent their academic record. - Use Early Decision only when Carleton is the clear first choice because the agreement is binding. Admissions details checked July 17, 2026. Verify policies before applying: [Carleton application requirements](https://www.carleton.edu/admissions/apply/steps/) · [Carleton standardized testing policy](https://www.carleton.edu/admissions/apply/steps/testing/). ### How Carleton College compares - Its SAT rank in the stored federal dataset is #8 of 197 US colleges with published SAT ranges in this snapshot and #1 of 2 in MN. - Its 20% acceptance rate is more selective than 88% of the 197 colleges in the same ranked pool. - Reported section midpoints skew 20 points toward Math (750 Math vs 730 Reading and Writing). - Median earnings 10 years after entry ($75,525) are $12,459 above the $63,066 median across that pool. National SAT rank: #8 of 197 SAT rank in MN: #1 of 2 More selective than: 88% of ranked colleges Earnings vs national median: +$12,459 ### What the numbers say about Carleton College - The reported middle 50% spans 110 points, from 1450 to 1560. A planning score near or above 1600 gives you a target above that historical range, not an admission guarantee. - The reported section midpoints are 730 Reading and Writing and 750 Math. Use the lower section as the first place to look for recoverable points in your own score split. - The Scorecard snapshot reports a 20% acceptance rate. That rate describes a past applicant pool and should not be read as your personal admission probability. - Reported outcomes include a 90% completion rate and $75,525 in median earnings 10 years after entry. Compare those figures with cost and program fit, not in isolation. [Understand a 1510 SAT score](https://1600.now/sat-score/1510) [Plan for a 1600](https://1600.now/how-to-get-1600-sat) [Verify current admissions policy](https://www.carleton.edu/) ### Tuition and outcomes Tuition (in-state): $68,892 Tuition (out-of-state): $68,892 Median earnings 10 years after entry: $75,525 4-year completion rate (150% time): 90% Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Documentation version September 2025; our snapshot imported April 25, 2026. Scorecard fields can come from different reporting years, and this snapshot does not encode one universal data year. SAT totals are rounded to the nearest valid 10 points. Tuition excludes room, board, fees, and books. [Read the methodology](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/files/InstitutionDataDocumentation.pdf). ### How your SAT score lines up The Scorecard snapshot places the middle 50% of reported scores between **1450** and **1560**. This is descriptive data, not an admission threshold or probability estimate. - **1600 SAT planning target:** Above the reported middle-50% range, not an admission guarantee. - **1560 SAT (reported 75th percentile):** At the upper end of the reported middle-50% range. - **1510 SAT (range midpoint):** Within the reported range; not a measured median. - **1450 SAT (reported 25th percentile):** At the lower end of the reported middle-50% range. At or above 1560 Strong relative score At the upper end of the reported range. Consider submitting if the current policy accepts scores. 1450–1550 Within the reported range Compare your exact position, section split, and the rest of your academic record. Below 1450 Below the reported range Check the current testing policy before deciding whether to withhold the score or retake. [Compare to other colleges →](https://1600.now/what-sat-score-do-i-need) ### Colleges with similar SAT scores Ranked by proximity to Carleton College's reported SAT midpoint. Similar scores do not imply similar programs, cost, or admission odds. | College | Location | SAT middle 50% | Acceptance rate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Bowdoin College](https://1600.now/college/bowdoin-college) | Brunswick, ME | 1470–1550 | 7% | | [Wellesley College](https://1600.now/college/wellesley-college) | Wellesley, MA | 1460–1560 | 14% | | [Emory University](https://1600.now/college/emory-university) | Atlanta, GA | 1470–1550 | 11% | | [University of Southern California](https://1600.now/college/university-of-southern-california) | Los Angeles, CA | 1450–1550 | 10% | | [Middlebury College](https://1600.now/college/middlebury-college) | Middlebury, VT | 1450–1550 | 11% | | [Washington and Lee University](https://1600.now/college/washington-and-lee-university) | Lexington, VA | 1430–1540 | 14% | ### Questions about Carleton College #### What SAT score do I need for Carleton College? Carleton College's Scorecard snapshot shows a middle-50% SAT range of 1450–1560, rounded to valid 10-point totals. 1600 is a planning target above the reported range, not an admission cutoff. #### What is Carleton College's acceptance rate? Carleton College's historical College Scorecard snapshot reports approximately 20%. This is a past institution-wide applicant pool, not an individual admission probability. #### How much does it cost to attend Carleton College? Historical published tuition is approximately $68,892 per year (excludes room, board, fees). #### Is Carleton College test-optional? Carleton does not require Fall 2027 applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores. Students who choose to report testing can self-report results during the application process. #### When are Carleton College's application deadlines? Carleton offers Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision. Applicants should confirm the current cycle's exact dates on the college's official deadline page before submitting. Official site: [www.carleton.edu](https://www.carleton.edu/)