Admission & test scores

Carleton College SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1450–1560 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 33. Carleton College admits 20% of applicants — selective. 96% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1450–1560middle half of admits
ACT midpoint33admitted students
Acceptance rate20%selective
First-year retention96%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile
1450
Average
1517
75th percentile
1560

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1450 and a quarter above 1560. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 2,086.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana 1520 34 11% $65,025
Barnard College New York, New York 1520 33 9% $69,888
Bowdoin College Brunswick, Maine 1520 — 7% $67,832
Emory University Atlanta, Georgia 1520 33 11% $64,280
Wellesley College Wellesley, Massachusetts 1520 33 14% $67,176
New York University New York, New York 1520 34 9% $62,796

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

Carleton College admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for Carleton College?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 1450 and 1560 on the SAT, with an average of 1517. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does Carleton College require?
The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 33.
How hard is it to get into Carleton College?
Carleton College admits 20% of applicants, which is selective. Of those who enrol, 96% return for a second year.
Does Carleton College require SAT or ACT scores?
This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.
What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.