Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at Carleton

6.11%

Applicants - since 2015

-0.24%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at Carleton over the past 10 years is 20.19%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 20.41%. Carleton is highly selective, and gaining admission is challenging for most applicants.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 36.75%, and the 2025 yield is 34.82%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 1.56% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of Carleton applicants increased by 10.35% (669 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 6.11% overall.

Key Takeaways: Carleton Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 20.41%, demonstrating consistent admission standards over the past decade. The stability of this rate suggests that Carleton maintains a predictable and steady admissions environment for prospective students.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 34.82%. This stable yield rate reflects consistent conversion of admissions offers into actual enrollments at Carleton. The stability indicates predictable enrollment outcomes and sustainable admission practices.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, Carleton received approximately 7,133 applications, admitted 1,456 students, and enrolled 507 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Carleton is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.

Acceptance Rate Changes

Carleton 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Carleton over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 20.19%, while the most recent rate stands at 20.41%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 20.41%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 20.09% and for women is 20.31%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Carleton have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 20.65% 22.13% 19.46%
2016-17 22.62%
1.97%
24.23%
2.10%
21.34%
1.87%
2017-18 21.20%
-1.42%
22.29%
-1.93%
20.30%
-1.03%
2018-19 19.84%
-1.36%
19.35%
-2.95%
20.29%
-0.01%
2019-20 19.13%
-0.71%
19.10%
-0.24%
19.15%
-1.14%
2020-21 21.18%
2.06%
20.95%
1.85%
21.40%
2.25%
2021-22 18.00%
-3.18%
18.00%
-2.95%
17.00%
-4.40%
2022-23 16.63%
-1.38%
16.59%
-1.41%
16.66%
-0.35%
2023-24 22.28%
5.65%
20.54%
3.95%
24.03%
7.38%
2024-25 20.41%
-1.87%
17.72%
-2.82%
23.48%
-0.56%
Average 20.19% 20.09% 20.31%
Carleton College Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

Carleton has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 35.37% in 2015 to 34.82% in 2025, representing a 1.56% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 36.75%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Carleton from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 1.56% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 35.37% 36.56% 34.30%
2016-17 38.65%
3.28%
41.69%
5.13%
35.89%
1.59%
2017-18 37.88%
-0.77%
38.02%
-3.68%
37.76%
1.87%
2018-19 37.60%
-0.28%
40.24%
2.23%
35.29%
-2.47%
2019-20 37.47%
-0.12%
37.04%
-3.20%
37.88%
2.60%
2020-21 31.03%
-6.45%
32.15%
-4.89%
29.99%
-7.90%
2021-22 40.00%
8.97%
40.96%
8.81%
38.94%
8.95%
2022-23 37.28%
-2.72%
39.47%
-1.49%
35.29%
-3.64%
2023-24 37.36%
0.08%
38.92%
-0.55%
36.01%
0.72%
2024-25 34.82%
-2.54%
38.40%
-0.52%
31.83%
-4.18%
Average 36.75% 38.34% 35.32%
Carleton College enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 7,111, the average number of admitted is 1,425, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 523.

The number of Carleton applicants increased by 10.35% (669 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 6.11% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Carleton College from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 6,722 1,388 491
2016-17 6,485
-3.53%
1,467
5.69%
567
15.48%
2017-18 6,499
0.22%
1,378
-6.07%
522
-7.94%
2018-19 7,092
9.12%
1,407
2.10%
529
1.34%
2019-20 7,324
3.27%
1,401
-0.43%
525
-0.76%
2020-21 6,892
-5.90%
1,460
4.21%
453
-13.71%
2021-22 7,915
14.84%
1,425
-2.40%
570
25.83%
2022-23 8,583
8.44%
1,427
0.14%
532
-6.67%
2023-24 6,464
-24.69%
1,440
0.91%
538
1.13%
2024-25 7,133
10.35%
1,456
1.11%
507
-5.76%
Average 7,111 1,425 523
Carleton College - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares Carleton College' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
Carleton College22.28%20.41%-8.39%
University of St Thomas85.36%84.94%0.49%
Concordia University-Saint Paul78.87%74.87%5.34%
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota92.78%88.81%4.47%
St Catherine University91.85%94.07%-2.36%
Bethel University87.80%90.99%-3.51%

Ratings & Review

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