Explore alternatives based on outcomes, location, cost, and admission difficulty
Given Carleton's 22.3% acceptance rate, most applicants will need backup options. The schools below deliver comparable outcomes with more accessible admission or different advantages.
These schools offer higher acceptance rates while delivering comparable career outcomes.
For similar liberal arts outcomes with better admission odds, consider St. Olaf College (52.1% acceptance, $65,543 median earnings) located just 1 mile away in Northfield. Gustavus Adolphus College admits 61.8% of applicants while producing graduates earning $65,607, located 41 miles from Carleton. Both offer strong liberal arts education with significantly more realistic admission prospects.
Strong options in the same region with comparable academic profiles.
Students wanting to stay in Minnesota should consider St. Olaf College (52.1% acceptance) literally next door in Northfield, offering similar academic programs at lower cost. Macalester College in St. Paul (28.2% acceptance, $63,878 earnings) provides urban liberal arts education 33 miles away with comparable selectivity but different campus culture.
Elite universities with similar prestige and academic caliber
Similar quality tier (#362 ranked)
