Financial aid was a critical factor in enabling me to attend. Carleton provided both the most generous package as well as the most well thought out aid. Through my financial aid package, for example, I have one round trip ticket home, so that I can see my family as an international student.

My family and I are and will be forever grateful to Carleton for what the school did for us. The college is really dedicated to providing education to people of all socio-economic backgrounds, and I think this was reflected in my financial aid award.

Carleton was the only one of my top-choice colleges to offer me any financial aid. They gave me enough aid to make coming here manageable. I was thrilled.

I was always drawn to Carleton, but the fact that Carleton made itself just as affordable, if not more so, than any other school I applied to made the decision that much easier.

Most Carleton financial aid is in the form of need-based aid. However, Carleton participates in three merit scholarship programs: the National Merit Scholarship Program, the National Achievement Scholarship Program, and the National Hispanic Recognition Program. Students who are finalists in these programs are eligible for Carleton scholarships of $2,000 per year.

International students are not eligible for federal aid. However, Carleton works to meet 100% of every student's demonstrated financial need. We do accept a few international students every year whose financial need is met through a combination of grants, scholarships, and loans. Learn more about financial aid for international students.

Carleton's financial aid is primarily need-based. This means that we try to meet 100% of demonstrated need for every student, regardless of entry status. Financial aid is recalculated each year and is based on a family's current financial status (as shown on FAFSA and CSS Profile forms). Your demonstrated capacity to contribute is the only factor used to determine how much and what kind of aid you will receive.

It's important not to get "sticker shock" when you start looking at colleges. The important number is the amount you will actually have to pay, not what the college costs--and there's often an enormous difference between the two. Carleton is committed to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted students. So be sure you don't narrow your choices down until you know the true bottom-line cost to you and your family.