How to Apply to Mathematics at Carleton College (Minnesota): A Liberal Arts College, a 72 to 75 Credit Math Major with a Senior Integrative Exercise Declared by the End of Junior Winter Term, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Carleton College is a liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, and is not Carleton University in Canada. Its undergraduate mathematics is taught by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Here is what you need to know to apply, based on the department, Admissions and financial pages of the college’s website, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Computer science is not covered here and is mentioned only where it meets mathematics.

1. Major structure

• What the department offers: majors in Mathematics and in Statistics, a minor in Mathematics and a minor in Statistics and Data Science. The majors page describes “Mathematics or Statistics” as two options within the major. The statistics major is not covered in detail here.
• Math major requirements: 72 to 75 credits in total. Core, 30 credits: MATH 101 or 111 (calculus), MATH 120 (Calculus 2), MATH 210 or 211 (Calculus 3 / Introduction to Multivariable Calculus), MATH 232 or 134 (linear algebra) and MATH 236 (Mathematical Structures, an introduction to proofs). Electives, 36 credits: six advanced courses from the department’s list (which includes CS 252 Algorithms and CS 254 Computability and Complexity as well as probability, differential equations, real analysis, groups, rings and fields, topology and statistical inference). At least four of the six must be Carleton courses with a Mathematics designation, and the six must cover at least three of five areas: algebra, analysis, applied mathematics, discrete structures, and geometry and topology. Senior work, 6 or 9 credits: normally a two-term group project (MATH 399 plus MATH 400), with a one-term independent project available at the department’s discretion.
• Talk credits: majors must also accumulate eight talk credits in junior and senior year by attending colloquia and fellow majors’ comps talks; double majors in mathematics and statistics need thirteen.
• Other: the department says potential majors with especially strong preparation may petition to substitute an advanced course for MATH 232 and/or MATH 236. The requirements page also lists extra courses (physics, chemistry and an introductory computer science course) for a major under the Combined Plan in Engineering. Each year several majors study in Hungary in the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics program.
• Honors: the department pages read do not describe a departmental honors program; this is not published there.

2. Admission: whether you choose a major when applying is not stated; declare the math major later

• When you apply: the Admissions pages read do not say applicants choose a major, and do not mention a separate admission line or cap for mathematics; this is not published there, so ask Admissions.
• Declaring: the department says “normally, a mathematics major must be declared by the last day of finals in the winter term of a student’s junior year”. Any grade or course conditions for declaring are not stated on the pages read; ask the department.
• Enrollment limits: the pages read do not mention a cap on the number of mathematics majors.
• Department statement: asked “Can I major in math or stats?”, the department answers yes, with majors in both and minors in mathematics and in statistics and data science.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• High school mathematics: Admissions says the strongest candidates have taken four years of mathematics, three or more of science, three or more of social science, three or more of foreign or classical language and four of English. The minimum is three or more years of mathematics including precalculus, three or more of English with an emphasis on writing, two of social science, one of laboratory science and two or more of a foreign or classical language; most students go well beyond this. The committee is usually attracted to candidates who take honors or advanced-level work such as AP or IB, when available.
• Placement: the department says new students can start in MATH 134 (Linear Algebra with Applications) or a calculus course, and uses four placement exams on Moodle: Exam #1 places into MATH 101 (Calculus with Problem Solving, meeting five days a week, entered through Exam #1 only) or MATH 111; Exam #2 into MATH 111 or 120; Exam #3 into MATH 120 or 211; and Exam #4 for students who have studied multivariable calculus. Questions go to mathplacement@carleton.edu.
• AP credit: Calculus AB 4 or 5: take MATH 120 and earn 6 credits (for MATH 111) that count toward the math major but not the minor; Calculus BC 4 or 5: take MATH 211 and earn 12 credits (for MATH 111 and 120), likewise counting toward the major but not the minor. No credit is given below 4, and those students should take Exam #2. AP Statistics 4 or 5 earns 6 credits that do not apply to the statistics major.
• IB: a 5 or higher on the Analysis & Approaches Higher-Level exam means taking placement Exam #3; for other IB courses or exams contact the placement advisor.
• Math competitions: the Admissions pages read do not say how competitions are viewed.

4. Deadlines and materials

• Deadlines: Fall Early Decision 15 November, decisions posted 15 December, enrollment confirmed by 15 January; Winter Early Decision 15 January, decisions 15 February, confirmation by 1 March; Regular Decision 15 January, decisions 1 April, confirmation by 1 May; QuestBridge in late September. Financial aid materials are due the same day as the application. The pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry.
• How to apply: the Common App, QuestBridge or Coalition application, with no preference.
• Materials: a transcript (classes and grades from the first three years, the senior year schedule and, when available, first-term senior grades), the counselor recommendation (school report) and two academic teacher recommendations; the pages read do not require a mathematics teacher.
• Application fee: none.
• Testing: permanently test-optional since 2025. If you submit, Carleton requires full SAT or ACT results, not the writing section, which may be self-reported with official scores required after enrollment. The two pages differ on the score deadlines: the materials page says 20 November (Fall Early Decision) and 20 January (Winter Early Decision and Regular Decision), while the criteria page says 1 February (Early Decision 2) and 1 March (Regular Decision).
• Interviews: optional, offered from early June through 15 January.
• Review: Carleton says it is not looking for a specific GPA or test score, and at least two members of the admissions committee read each application.

5. US domestic applicants

• Tuition: Carleton is private, and its cost page lists one rate with no in-state/out-of-state split. For 2026-27: tuition $75,186, student activity fee $480, housing $10,194 and food $9,120, a comprehensive fee of $94,980; with books and personal costs ($2,040) and average travel ($850), a total cost of attendance of $97,870; health insurance is $2,355 and can be waived. The international applicants page gives an estimated 2026-2027 cost of attendance of $104,746 (including tuition, housing, food, fees and estimates for books, personal expenses, travel, health insurance and expenses over breaks); the two figures are calculated differently. The page says to expect increases of 4 to 5% a year; the rates for fall 2027 entry are not published on the pages read.
• Aid: Carleton says it meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans, with no income caps. In 2025-26 families receiving aid paid an average of $21,763, the average need-based package was $71,866, and 57% of students received need-based aid. The cost page says that from 2027-28 all federal and institutional loans in need-based packages will be replaced with grants and scholarships. Aid generally requires the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.
• Aid deadlines: the same day as the admission deadline (15 November, 15 January); transfer 31 March.
• Residency preference or guaranteed admission: not stated on the pages read.

6. International applicants

• Who counts: Admissions defines international students as those without US citizenship, permanent residency or DACA status, regardless of where they or their parents live or where they go to school.
• Materials: the same as other applicants, plus the Certification of Finances, required whether or not you apply for aid and available after you submit the application. Documents not originally in English need a translation, and applicants may not translate their own documents.
• English: if you do not speak English at home and your classes have not been taught in English for the last four years, submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo results. Carleton says students with scores in these ranges are best prepared: TOEFL iBT 5.5 and above (100 and above for iBT before 2026), IELTS 7.0 and above, Duolingo 130 and above. The page presents these as ranges, not as hard minimums.
• Admission and aid: Carleton meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans, and says this applies to international students too, but funding for them is limited, so it will not consider a new or revised aid application once you have been offered admission. You can submit the free International Student Application for Financial Assistance (directly to Admissions) or the 2027-28 CSS Profile.
• Early Decision: Carleton may admit a few exceptionally qualified international scholarship applicants through binding Early Decision, with very limited international scholarships in that round.
• Interviews: not required; some regions have Alumni Admissions Representatives, and InitialView or Vericant interviews you have already done can be sent.
• Share of students: the page says 10% of students are international, from 51 countries.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the Admissions pages read do not mention the Gaokao or give China-specific guidance; this is not published there, so contact admissions@carleton.edu.
• Transcripts and other records: no China-specific requirements are published on the pages read; the general rules in section 6 apply: translations of non-English documents and the Certification of Finances.
• English scores: see section 6.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5.
• College funding: the financial aid page says students can receive up to $5,350 annually to fund an internship or research opportunity, and 80% of students have a campus job. Department-specific scholarships and conditions for research programs are not stated on the pages read; the department’s page mentions summer research, math modeling, data analytics and problem-solving opportunities, so ask the department.
• Outcomes: the department’s alumni page only asks readers to use the Alumni Directory for what alumni are doing; it prints no employment data.

9. Transfer students

• Who counts: anyone who has completed college coursework after graduating high school; high school dual-enrollment students are not transfer applicants. Fall entry only.
• Deadlines: application 31 March, decisions by 15 May, enrollment by 1 June, financial aid materials 31 March, classes starting in early September. Carleton keeps a small transfer waitlist and generally hopes to finish decisions by 1 August. The pages show no year, so check.
• Materials: Coalition App or Common App; a report from the registrar or a school official (confirming good standing); high school and college transcripts; two teacher recommendations; no application fee; test scores optional.
• Credit: the credit evaluation arrives with the acceptance letter. In general, credit is awarded for coursework from regionally accredited institutions with grades of C- or higher, initially as general credit, with course equivalencies decided by departments; the maximum is 102 credits (18 Carleton courses). Transcripts from foreign colleges must first go to a NACES-member agency for a course-by-course evaluation. A Carleton degree requires at least two years in residence, including senior year.
• For the math major: at least four of the six electives must be Carleton courses with a Mathematics designation. The pages read state no minimum GPA and no calculus or linear algebra sequence for transfers; ask Admissions and the department.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Apply by 15 November (Fall Early Decision) or 15 January (Winter Early Decision and Regular Decision); no application fee
• Aid materials are due the same day: FAFSA and CSS Profile

International applicants (including China):

• Fill in the Certification of Finances right after submitting; attach translations of non-English documents
• If you need aid, apply before an admission offer; Carleton will not consider a new or revised application afterward

After entry:

• Take the Moodle math placement exams; declare the math major by the last day of finals of the winter term of junior year

Transfer students:

• Deadline 31 March; up to 102 credits transfer; at least two years in residence at Carleton

Sources: Carleton College (Northfield, Minnesota), Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Department: majors and minors; Department: math major requirements; Department: calculus/statistics placement; Admissions: steps; Admissions: materials and deadlines; Admissions: criteria; Admissions: international applicants; Admissions: transfer; Cost and financial aid; Cost of attendance. The Admissions pages show no entry year, so check that the dates apply to fall 2027 entry; the department pages mark some courses as not offered in 2026-27. See Carleton’s website for the latest. Carleton College is not Carleton University in Canada.