Carleton College vs Davidson College

Carleton College is the more selective of the two at 16%, versus 17% at Davidson College. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.

Carleton College
Highly selective
16%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1510
Private · Minnesota
Davidson College
Highly selective
17%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1470
Private · North Carolina

Carleton College vs Davidson College: the differences that matter

How Carleton College and Davidson College stack up on selectivity, scores, and what they value.

Carleton College and Davidson College are almost equally selective (16% vs 17%), so neither is a clear safety relative to the other. Your odds at each come down to fit, not headline difficulty.

The two also read applications a little differently. Carleton College leans more on a similar mix of factors, while Davidson College puts more weight on class rank, interview, alumni / legacy relation. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.

On test scores, Carleton College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1510 and Davidson College's is around 1470. Admitted students at Carleton College post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.

What each school weighs

Factors either school weighs heavily, side by side.

FactorCarleton CollegeDavidson College
Rigor of secondary school recordvery importantvery important
Academic GPAvery importantvery important
Class rankconsideredimportant
Standardized test scoresimportantimportant
Application essayvery importantvery important
Recommendationsvery importantvery important
Interviewconsideredimportant
Extracurricular activitiesvery importantvery important
Calculate your chances at both →

Frequently asked questions

Is Carleton College or Davidson College harder to get into?

Carleton College is harder to get into, with a 16% acceptance rate versus 17% at Davidson College.

What's the difference in SAT scores between Carleton College and Davidson College?

Carleton College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1510, and Davidson College's is around 1470.

What are my chances at Carleton College and Davidson College?

That depends on your full profile. CollegeCalcAI gives a free, personalized estimate for each school in a few minutes.