Overview
Worldly Perspective Tempered by Midwestern Humility Creates a Campus Alive with Opportunity and a Challenging Curriculum
A private, coeducational liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, Carleton College was founded in 1866 and is known for academic excellence and a gracious, connected community. The college offers 36 majors and 15 concentrations in the natural and social sciences, the arts, and the humanities to approximately 2,000 undergraduates, with 90 percent of them living on campus.
Carleton comprises 1,040 acres, including the 880-acre Cowling Arboretum, home to dedicated faculty and a new crop of intellectually curious students every year. Carleton is alive with opportunity, a spirit of service, and a challenging curriculum focused on engaging both the mind and the heart.
The Challenging Curriculum Is Presented by Dedicated Faculty, and Popular Majors Co-exist with Special Programs
With small classes and a student-faculty ratio of 9:1, the college's dedicated faculty provides global perspective balanced by Midwestern humility. Carleton is refreshingly unpretentious, despite a reputation as a pioneer in education.
Almost one-quarter of the students are biology, biological sciences, and economics majors, with English and history also popular. Special degree options include combined degrees in engineering with Columbia University in New York and Washington University in St. Louis, in education with the Bank Street School of Education, and in nursing with Rush University.
The challenging curriculum helps students think critically and broadly. Students compete with themselves, not other students, another benefit of the average class size of 18 and accessible professors. Learning at Carleton doesn't stop when students leave the classroom, as there is no distinct line between "inside" and "outside" when the world constitutes one large classroom.
Academic discovery lies at the heart of the Carleton experience, and the supportive environment is crucial. Educated for succeeding at diverse careers, enlightened for leading rewarding lives, Carleton graduates are prepared to lead, yet still excited about learning.
Up to 70 Percent of Carleton Graduates, Year after Year, Take Advantage of the Many Study Abroad Opportunities
Almost two-thirds of Carleton students study abroad at off-campus programs in London, Paris, and Italy, to name just a few locations. Students can enroll in foreign universities directly and receive Carleton credit. The college offers programs itself, as well as others organized by various approved organizations or schools.
Carleton's three-term academic calendar encourages off-campus study, with participation rates as high as 70 percent among recent graduates. Carleton-sponsored seminars, from politics in America to linguistics in France, offer a world-class experience. All modern languages in the Carleton curriculum offer study-abroad components.
Student Organizations Run the Gamut from Academic Subjects to Cultural Insights, with a Variety of Media Outlets
There are more than 170 student organizations at Carleton, and students can invent their own, too. Student organizations run the gamut from groups based on academic subjects, arts and entertainment, and culture to politics and spirituality, as well as voluntary service to the community.
Student media occupy a proud place at Carleton. A student-run radio station, a video magazine, some half dozen print publications, numerous websites, and other media ensure that diverse viewpoints are heard. Whatever it is that Carleton students wish to express -- from poetry to interfaith dialogue -- there is, or will be, an outlet for it.
Inside or Outside, the Carleton Campus Offers the Widest Possible Range of Sports Activities, Solo or Team
Carleton has both brawn and brains. The Quiz Bowl team was a national champion, and over the past five years the golf, cross country, volleyball, and other squads have achieved national ranking. Carleton has 19 varsity teams competing in one of NCAA Division III's best conferences, the MIAC (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference). Another 50 student-led club sports and an active intramural sports league are open to all.
Students can pursue outdoor activities in the 880-acre Cowling Arboretum, which is one part recreation area, one part wilderness refuge. The "Arb" is perfect for close, safe outdoor adventure, while inside recreation at the 80,000 square-foot Recreation Center includes a fitness center, racquetball courts, and a climbing wall.
Freshmen Live on Campus, Which Has Nine Residence Halls, and Options for Older Students
The 90 percent of Carleton students that aren't in an off-campus studies program live on the residential campus. Most students, and all first-year ones, live in one of nine college residence halls. Most dorm floors house a mix of men and women from all four classes, with resident assistants coordinating activities and events. Older students can also choose shared-interest housing or one of the highly coveted townhouses.
Carleton Makes Sure to Meet the Full Financial Need of Every Admitted Student with Generous Financial Aid
Carleton meets the full financial need of every admitted student. True to the college's mission, almost two-thirds of this aid was disbursed as need-based grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid.
City of Northfield Is a Small Town, but Minneapolis-St. Paul Is 90 Minutes Away with the World's Biggest Mall
Northfield is a small town with a downtown area dominated by family-owned businesses. A town of "cows, colleges, and contentment," Northfield is a typical Midwestern town with a character molded by the farm-based economy. Because of local agriculture, Northfield has a growing Hispanic population, whose members Carleton students help with educational, health, and other matters.
About 90 minutes away by car are the Twin Cities, Minneapolis-St. Paul, home of the Mall of America (the world's biggest) as well as all the pro sports, concerts, fine dining, and other metropolitan resources. Most Carleton students make Twin Cities trips on weekends, holidays, and breaks.
