Ripon College vs Carleton College
Ripon College and Carleton College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Ripon, nestled in Wisconsin, boasts a higher acceptance rate (68%) compared to Carleton's selective admissions (23%). While Carleton's student body is slightly larger, both colleges foster close-knit communities with similar graduation rates hovering around 80%. Carleton's academic offerings lean towards the sciences, with popular majors in biology, chemistry, and computer science, while Ripon's strengths lie in the humanities and social sciences, with majors like English, history, and psychology drawing many students. Explore the detailed comparison table to uncover further distinctions between these two exceptional colleges and determine which aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Carleton College |
![]() Ripon College |
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Overview |
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Location | Northfield, Minnesota | Ripon, Wisconsin |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Trimester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 72.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 17.5% | 79.8% |
Application fees | $30 | |
SAT range | 1408 - 1550 | 940 - 1160 |
ACT range | 31 - 35 | 20 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 10.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 34.0% | 62.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,915 | 2,486 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,389 | 1,983 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 555 | 247 |
Yield rate | 40.0% | 12.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $78,315 | $57,200 |
Average net price | $31,718 | $21,734 |
Tuition | $59,850 | $47,800 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,115
Meal plan:
$7,260
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Room/dormitory:
$4,530
Meal plan:
$4,560
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
65.0%
Average amount $45,715 |
100.0%
Average amount $36,789 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
45.0%
Average amount $3,914 |
79.0%
Average amount $5,232 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,334 |
16.0%
Average amount $13,915 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,044
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% |
810
Men 50.2% Women 49.8% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 81.5% | N/A |
International students | 10.2% | 1.6% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 1,854 | 952 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Minnesota California Illinois New York Texas | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 14:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 91.4% | 62.0% |
Dropout rate | 8.3% | 38.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
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