Class of 2028 Profile

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The Class in Numbers

7,869 applicants, 507 enrolled
From 45 states, 409 schools and 20 countries
33% Black, Indigenous, People of Color
12% are among the first generation of their families to attend college
61% of the students with a class rank graduated in the top 10% of their class
39 languages spoken

Three Members of the Class of 2028

These 3 highlighted students provided a glimpse into the varied talents and interests the Class of 2028 will bring to Carleton’s student body.

EMMA MORRISON
Attleboro, Massachusetts

Emma’s passion for her community is evident in her extensive volunteer work. In high school, she served as both a math tutor and a special education assistant. Beyond school, she contributes to her local library as a member of the diversity board and teaches painting at a nearby retirement community. For the past few years, she utilized her Spanish skills as an intern at a local immigration law office, where she assists clients, lawyers, and paralegals with daily tasks.

ROLAND FOSTER III
Marietta, Georgia

It’s hard to find a student group that Roland isn’t involved in. A varsity football player and wrestler, he served as a student ambassador, a member of the diversity board, and co-president of the Black Student Alliance. A talented speaker and writer, Roland is a member of the National Honor Society and has received awards from youth organizations throughout Georgia. He interned with the Atlanta Bar Association and plans to major in political science.

TIARNAN BABCOCK O’NEAL
Bainbridge, Washington

A passionate statistician, Tiarnan sought to extend his enthusiasm beyond the classroom. After interning for a candidate for the Washington State House in 2018 and 2020, he combined his interests by creating his own election model in 2020. This model was so accurate that it surpassed the polling models of FiveThirtyEight. On the field, Tiarnan is a skilled frisbee player and served as the captain of his high school team. He co-founded a club team composed of Seattle’s most talented high school players, a team that went toe-to-toe against some of the best adult players in the sport.

This is Carleton

A private, residential liberal arts college located in Northfield, Minnesota

#1 Teaching Faculty

Our students learn from the best.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Carleton professors first in the nation for their commitment to undergraduate teaching.

With our small classes and exceptional professors, Carleton offers a rigorous, yet highly supportive academic environment.

At a Glance

2,086 Students

50 states + 57 countries
10% international
50% female // 50% male
34% people of color

62% study abroad

96% of first-year students who entered in fall 2022 returned for their sophomore year in the fall of 2023

33 majors, 40 minors

8:1 student/faculty ratio
16: average class size
3: 10-week terms

83% graduate within four years

95% of 2023 graduates were employed or attending graduate or professional school within six months of graduation, of those reporting

#9 Liberal Arts College

U.S. News & World Report

The Class of 2028 comes from 45 states (including the District of Columbia) and 20 countries.

US map of where the class 2028 is from. States not included are Arkansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire, West Virginia, and South Carolina

Global Reach

Argentina 1	Australia 1	Brazil 1	Cameroon 1	Canada 1
China 37	Colombia 1	Ghana 1	Guyana 1	India 4
Japan 1	Kenya 1	Morocco 1	Pakistan 1	Singapore 1
South Korea 4	Taiwan 3	Turkey 2	United Kingdom 2

Racial Diversity

33% Black, Indigenous, People of Color
9% report two or more races

Asian 18%
Black or African American 7%
Hispanic or Latine 9%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 1%

Fields of Study

Science & Math 55%

Social Science 28%

Arts & Humanities 23%

Extracurricular Activities

The Class of 2028 stayed busy in high school:

Civic Engagement 74%
Academic Club 64%
Athletics 70%
Arts (music, dance, visual art) 59%
Paying Job 67%
Cultural Activities 25%

Popular Majors

Computer Science

Biology

Psychology

Political Science/International Relations

Economics

Mathematics

Chemistry

Physics

History

English

All About Aid

Carleton met the full financial need of all students in the Class of 2028
56% of the class are receiving more than $16.7 million in need-based Carleton grants
The average need-based grant is $59,529
The average need-based financial aid award is $68,279, including grants, scholarships, work study, and loans

students walking past a residence hall in spring

Generous Support Makes it Possible

Once students subtract their grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment earnings, they’re left with yearly net cost—the amount their family is expected to contribute.

Every case is different, but here are examples of average net cost for members of the Class of 2028 who are eligible for federal aid:

Family Income	Average Financial Aid Award	Average Net Cost
Less than $41,999	$80,829	$2,573
$42,000–$104,999	$75,426	$7,597
$105,000–$169,999	$64,581	$19,038
$170,000–$224,999	$52,022	$29,975
$225,000–$275,000	$42,075	$42,227

For the Class of 2024, the average student’s debt at graduation was $21,407, well below the national average of $37,850. To get an approximation of how much financial aid your family might qualify for, use one of our financial aid estimators.

students cheering on top of carleton sign during move-in

Financial Snapshot

$86,478

The 2024–25 comprehensive fee, including tuition, housing, food, and an activity fee

100%

We meet the full demonstrated need of every student. We don’t assume students will need to take out private loans or find outside scholarships.

8

We limit first-year students’ jobs to 8 hours per week so they have plenty of time for academics and extracurricular activities.

0.0%

The student loan default rate among Carleton alumni is zero.