2026 Program Cost

3-Week Programs

Domestic students: $5,300 | International students: $5,700

1-Week Programs

Domestic students: $1,500 | International students: $1,900

2-Week Connected Session Experience

This is for students who plan to take a 1-week course in Session 1, another course during Session 2, AND stay the weekend. 

Domestic students: $3,500 | International students: $3,900

Students who want to return home over the weekend only pay the two course tuition fees. Students who are not staying the weekend will simply double the tuition fee for a 1-week session.

Visit our International Student Information page to determine if you are considered an international student.

Need-based scholarships are available. Visit our apply page for information on the need-based scholarship application process. International students are not eligible for scholarships. Students requesting either partial or full scholarships will do so in the application process. If you question your eligibility for a need-based scholarship, please email summer@carleton.edu.

Program cost includes tuition, housing, and more:

  • Course tuition
  • Room and board plan (housing and meals)
  • Books and materials
  • Class supplies
  • Activities and field trips (students only cover their meal expenses on optional weekend field trips)
  • Personal laundry
  • Shuttle transportation to and from MSP Airport/campus

Application Fee

Each student will be required to submit a $75 application fee with their application. This covers the detailed processing and review time invested in our applications. Application fees are paid by card on the student’s application dashboard. The $75 application fee covers applications for both the 3-week and 1-week programs if a student is applying to both. Applications are not considered complete and will not be reviewed unless the application fee has been paid.

Students applying for a scholarship will receive an automatic application fee waiver during the application process.

Program Deposit

After acceptance, students will have to confirm their attendance to SLAI and submit their first payment of $500 in order to reserve their spot in the program. Need-based scholarship recipients may be exempt from submitting the first tuition payment.

Payment Plan Options

Payment plans are available for families who need extra time to submit payments or would like to work with SLAI to set up a payment schedule. Students may request a payment plan from their application dashboard after confirming their attendance.

How to Pay Tuition

Students can pay their deposit and tuition from the application dashboard after confirming their attendance to SLAI. Within two weeks of confirming attendance, parents will receive a link to their student’s online payment portal and tuition statement.

Parents may also pay by check. Parents can send a check to our office for tuition payment. Please include the following information with your payment:

  1. Student’s name
  2. Student’s application ID (found at top of application dashboard)

Mail your check to:

  • Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute
    1 North College St. Northfield, MN 55057

2026 Cancellation Policy

Our cancellation policy applies to all students that have applied or been accepted to our Institute and its programs.

Written withdrawals received by the Summer Liberal Arts Institute office:

  • On or before April 16, 2026 will receive a refund of all fees paid over and above the $75 Application Fee
  • Between April 17 and April 30, 2026 will receive a refund of 50% of all fees paid over and above the $75 Application Fee
  • On or after May 1, 2026 will not receive a refund

All cancellations and refund requests must be submitted in writing to summer@carleton.edu. Please allow up to 10 business days for your refund to be processed. Refunds are typically issued in the same form of payment as the original payment. Credit card fees will be deducted from any refunds processed, including duplicate payments.

No refunds or discounts will be given for early departures prior to the end of the program. Any participant who is dismissed from the program due to disciplinary issues, or who voluntarily withdraws from their program for any reason, will not receive a refund.

In the event that SLAI must cancel a program, confirmed participants will receive a refund of all fees paid with the exception of the $75 Application Fee.

This written cancellation policy is always binding, and no verbal communication from SLAI staff can override this policy.