Washington and Lee University is the more selective of the two, admitting 13.5% of applicants versus 21.8% at Carleton College. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $10,567 per year at Carleton College versus $4,497 at Washington and Lee University. Carleton College's yield rate is 35.0%, versus 41.1% at Washington and Lee University.
| Metric | Carleton College | Washington and Lee University |
|---|---|---|
| Overall acceptance rate | 21.8% | 13.5% |
| Early acceptance rate | 34.6% | 27.6% |
| SAT middle 50% | 1460–1530 | 1430–1530 |
| Avg unweighted GPA | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Yield rate | 35.0% | 41.1% |
| Class size | 518 | 499 |
| Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income | $10,567 | $4,497 |
| Net price, over $110,000 income | $52,567 | $40,646 |
Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2025–26 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard. Rows appear only where both colleges report the statistic.
No. Washington and Lee University is more selective: it admits 13.5% of applicants, versus 21.8% at Carleton College, based on the most recent Common Data Set.
For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $10,567 per year at Carleton College and $4,497 at Washington and Lee University, so Washington and Lee University is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).
Stats compare the schools — the simulation compares you against each school's applicant pool.
Estimate your chances at Carleton College and Washington and Lee University