Carleton College

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Carleton College was $65,043 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 4.5%–from $62,244 the previous year. On average, college tuition rises about 3% year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't the final cost for attending college. Many students pay way less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. Additionally, student loans can make theactual cost of attending college feel more doable until you're done with college.

Carleton College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Carleton College is around $62,549 a year.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $18,677 of debt.

Does Carleton College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Carleton College is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for residents of Minnesota as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state status can cut the cost of college tuition. Take the time to confirm your state's eligibility criteria for as an in-state resident. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Minnesota colleges

Tuition for International Students at Carleton College

Tuition at Carleton College is the same for all students.

Students from outside of the U.S. usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but should research private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Carleton College:

•On-campus jobs •Carleton College-specific loans •Carleton College-specific scholarships

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Carleton College Housing Expenses, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when planning for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Carleton College.

House and Food Costs at Carleton College

Housing and campus dining at Carleton College is $16,710 a year. This number includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that enables you to eat in the school dining facilities.

Meal-plan costs can depend on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at Carleton College?

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

Keep in mind, there could also be additional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Most colleges have resources for students who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

Transportation costs

The cost of transportation in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or are you planning to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these factors can make a big difference in your estimated cost of transportation. At Carleton College, freshman are not allowed to park on campus.

Where are a college is located can also have a big effect on the amount you'll have to spend just to get around. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand transportation in a city might be expensive, but there may be more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. Carleton Collegeis located in a town in Minnesota, not far from Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Other Costs

When budgeting for college, be sure to take into account the cost of things like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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Total Tuition and Expenses at Carleton College

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Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better estimate of what is really costs to go to Carleton College.

Total Cost of Carleton College

What will the cost of attending Carleton College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$65,043
Room and Board	$16,710
Other expenses	$938

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$83,105
Off-Campus	$65,457

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Financial Aid at Carleton College

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The majority of Carleton College undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2023, 1,160 of the 2,056 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Carleton College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $62,549 a year. Around 37% of Carleton College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Carleton College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $18,677 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$16,680
State Loans	$13,010
Carleton College-Specific Loans	$9,912
Private Loans	$34,382

Most Common Loans for Carleton College Students
Federal Loans	35%
State loans	1%
Institutional Loans	3%
Private loans	2%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Carleton College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Carleton College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Carleton College awarded 1,160 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $57.7 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $1.25 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Carleton College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Carleton College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Carleton College was $62,549 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Carleton College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$20,556
Off-Campus	$2,908

What will attending Carleton College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Carleton College's net cost calculator on their website.

Carleton College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Carleton College does not have guaranteed tuition.

Carleton College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Carleton College Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Carleton College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Carleton College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

Carleton College's endowment was valued at $1.094 billion in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million. For each full-time student, Carleton College spends about $31,824 a year.

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Learn More About Carleton College

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Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

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