About

See what students say:

Academics

Curiosity thrives at Carleton College, beginning with Argument and Inquiry seminars, where first-years learn how to think critically, research, and truly understand the meaning of a liberal-arts education and the pursuit of knowledge. The "challenging" academics and "collaborative" community underlie a reputation for being "highly rigorous without ... cutthroat competition." The curriculum adheres to a "fairly fast-paced" trimester calendar of 10-week classes, giving students the opportunity to select 12 different classes and build out a course of diverse, interdisciplinary study, a Carleton hallmark. Though this "is a rigorous school," support for students can be found in every corner, from advising and tutoring, to graduate school preparation, to each other: "Students help each other out a lot, too (even if it is just emotional support)," says one.

As for the faculty, they are as "friendly, accessible, supportive, and enthusiastic about teaching," and students "have no qualms about dropping in on office hours to chat." Students are also encouraged to collaborate on research with professors, and to pursue learning outside of traditional formats via the Off-Campus Studies office and Center for Community and Civic Engagement. For this group of "laid-back, outdoorsy students with a passion for learning and for developing strong community," the rewards of the work they put into learning are "worth every ounce of effort," both in terms of experience gained and community created: "I wanted to be at a place where I was challenged. I wanted to be surrounded by people who were smarter than me but also wanted to see me succeed," says one satisfied student.

Student Body

"The best part about [Carls] is that they all keep really open minds." Perhaps that's because students come from all over, often outside Minnesota, which mixes a lot of different viewpoints in with the school's intellectual rigor and Minnesota Nice. Students are also described as being "very welcoming" and "extremely kind" and a fount of "meaningful conversations." Of course, students describe themselves as "on the whole, pretty liberal," as well as "politically and environmentally aware" and "highly interested in activism on the whole." They're also the type of people who prioritize classwork to the point where many "spend the majority of the weekend studying," though that same student adds that they somehow "still find time for socializing and spending time on extracurriculars." That's for the best, as "there are so many clubs and organizations to get involved in, and so many people doing really interesting things outside of any structured class or club, that it is incredibly hard to not get involved in something or other."

Campus Life

Carleton is located in the small Minnesota town of Northfield, and almost all 2,000 students live on campus, creating a cozy community of "Carls." Intramural sports are "freakishly popular," including college favorites like ultimate Frisbee or broomball, and there are more than 200 clubs and organizations to join, such as the West Coast Swing Club or the stand-up comedy troupe. Students also marvel at the Arboretum, "an 800-acre forest where students go for runs, go snowshoeing, or have campfires" and which sometimes acts as an outdoor classroom. While partying is possible ("the drinking policy throughout Northfield is strict, but...it's relaxed here at Carleton," says a student), students say that "there are just as many opportunities for substance-free activities. Even at parties, there is no pressure to drink." On weekends, the most important thing that Carls do is give their brains a break from the academic obligations of the week, however that may be. One student offers their possible solutions: "I often find myself attending a concert at the Cave, the student pub; going to a show one of my friends wrote at the Little Nourse Theater; taking a quick trip to the cities for Mall of America or an uptown excursion; or, most likely, having a surprisingly engaging and deep intellectual discussion with some friends at a party on a Friday night."

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Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Address
Admissions Office
100 S. College St.
Northfield, MN 55057

Phone
8009952275

Email
visit@carleton.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
Cowling Arboretum
Weitz Center for Creativity
Historic Goodsell Observatory
Japanese Garden
Recreation Center
Sayles Campus Center, Library, Historic Scoville Hall

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Mall of America
Guthrie Theatre
Walker Outdoor Sculpture Garden
Science Museum of Minnesota
Historic Summit Ave
St. Paul Cathedral, State Capital, Minnesota History Center, James J. Hill House, Landmark Center, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Weisman Art Museum, Historic Fort Snelling, American Swedish Institute, Basilica of St. Mary

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center
Monday-Friday and Saturday during academic year
8am-5pm and 8:30am-noon
8009952275

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
Yes

Information Sessions
Available

Times
daily (morning and afternoon)

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Coach Directly

Advance Notice
1 week

Contact Email Address for Visit
visit@carleton.edu

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is 35 miles from campus. Carleton offers a very limited schedule of rides between the airport and campus; call the admissions office to make arrangements. Taxi service runs from the airport to the College. Rental cars are also available at the airport. Amtrak trains serve Minneapolis/St. Paul. These trains generally arrive late at night; therefore, you should plan to stay overnight near the station and take a bus or taxi to Northfield the following day. Northfield Lines also has a bus service to campus.

Driving Instructions to Campus
From I-35, take Exit 69 to Minnesota Hwy. 19 and head east for 7 miles to Northfield. At the first stoplight (where Hwy. 19 merges with Hwy. 3), turn left. Proceed to the next stoplight (2nd St./Hwy. 19) and turn right onto 2nd St. You will come to a stop sign at Division St.; continue straight ahead up the hill on 2nd St. Turn left at College St., which takes you to campus and the admissions office.

Local Accommodations
Fairfield Inn & Suites (114 2nd St W; (507) 366-5000) is within walking distance to campus. The Country Inn and Suites (300 Hwy. 3 S.; 800-456-4000) is about 1 mile from campus. AmericInn (1320 Bollenbacher Dr.; 507-645-7761) is within three miles of campus. There are numerous hotels in the southern metro area of Minneapolis/St. Paul that will be within 45 miles from campus.
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Applicants: 6,464
Acceptance Rate: 22%






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