Who Are Our Students?

A longitudinal report on the profile of Carleton students.

Carleton’s Enrolling Students in a Time of Changing Admissions Markets

2Source: CIRP Freshman Survey Trends.

• The number of other college applications has risen steadily since the 1970s. (Common Application, online applications)• Early decision has always been an important factor at Carleton.• Although the percentage of students who see Carleton as their “first choice” is declining, is it still very strong relative to the growing number of other applications.

1st choice

6+ other apps

No other apps

3

Quality Indicators – Carleton’s Entering Class

Source: Admissions Office.

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

2010

-1120

2224262830323436

ACT Scores

ACT Composite--25th percentileACT Composite--75th percentile 20

01-0

220

02-0

320

03-0

420

04-0

520

05-0

620

06-0

720

07-0

820

08-0

920

09-1

020

10-1

1400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

Math/Verbal SAT Scores

SAT I Verbal/Critcial Reading--25th Percentile SAT I Verbal/Critical Read-ing--75th Percentile SAT I Math--25th Percentile SAT I Math--75th Percentile

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

2010

-110%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Percent in Top 10% of High School Class

% of first-time first-years submitting high school class rankPercent in top 10 percent of high school graduating class

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

2010

-11

0102030405060708090

100

National Merit Scholars in the Entering Class

This college has a very good academic reputation

A visit to the campus

This college's graduates get good jobs

This college's graduates gain admission to top graduate/professional schools

This college has a good reputation for its social activities

Information from a website

Rankings in national magazines

I was offered financial assistance

The cost of attending this college

My parents wanted me to come here

I was admitted through an Early Action or Early Decision program

High school counselor advised me

My teacher advised me

The athletic department recruited me

Private college counselor advised me

My relatives wanted me to come here

I wanted to live near home

I was attracted by the religious affiliation/orientation of the college

Not offered aid by first choice

Could not afford first choice

Ability to take online courses

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Enrolling Students: Factors seen as important in choosing Carleton, 2010

Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important

$53,565

$17,900

$30,693

$7,495 $5,404

$3,865 $0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

Dollar Amount of Student Budget, Average Grant Aid, and Average Self-Help Aid

Student budget Grant Aid Self-Help

Student Budget = Total Charges + personal, books, and travel expenses.

57.3%52.4%

41.9%

67.8%70.4%

58.7%

10.1%

18.8%21.6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

Class entering in fall of:

Average Financial Aid as a Percentage of Student Budget

Grant Aid Any Aid/all aided students Self-help

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

$-

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

$14

,544

$29

,471

47.3%

54.4%

Financial Aid to All Carleton Undergraduates

Average grant aid included in aid package Average grant aid as a percent of total charges Percent of full-time students who received financial aid

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Admissions Acceptance Rates

Carleton Minimum Mean Maximum

Comparison group: US New and World Report Top 17

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

1,200

1,250

1,300

1,350

1,400

1,450

1,500

1,550

1,600

SAT Math/Verbal 75th Percentiles

Carleton Minimum Mean Maximum

Comparison group: US New and World Report Top 17

Comparison group: US New and World Report Top 17

1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-1060%

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

90%

95%

100%

CarletonMinimumMeanMaximum

Actual Graduation Rate (Four-year averages of six-year graduation rate)

Comparison group: US New and World Report Top 17

1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-100.75

0.8

0.85

0.9

0.95

1

1.05

CarletonMinimumMeanMaximum

Freshman Retention Rates(Four-year averages)

600620640660680700720740760780800

20

01-0

2

20

02-0

3

20

03-0

4

20

04-0

5

20

05-0

6

20

06-0

7

20

07-0

8

20

08-0

9

20

09-1

0

20

10-1

1

SAT Scores of Matriculants

SAT I Verbal-25th Percentile SAT I Verbal-75th Percentile

SAT I Math-25th Percentile SAT I Math-75th Percentile

68%

77%

91% 95%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%2

00

1-02

20

02-0

3

20

03-0

4

20

04-0

5

20

05-0

6

20

06-0

7

20

07-0

8

20

08-0

9

20

09-1

0

20

10-1

1

High School Class Rank for First Year Students

Percent in top 10 percent of high school graduating class

Percent in top 25 percent of high school graduating class

Socio-economic diversity

1993-4 2009-10

Median income & below 12.87% 11.28%

Median income to 100K 20.02% 13.93%

100K and above 28.74% 30.68%

Number not on need-based aid 38.48% 44.11%

Rough calculation comparing first two years of data from 1993-4 to last two yearsof data (2009-10), norming for 2010 dollars. Because of shifting categories, this data is approximate. Intervening years are difficult to map exactly, but the trend appears consistent.

Male/Female Balance

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Total full-time degree-seeking undergraduatesMaleFemale

Diversityminority and nonresident as percent of full-time undergraduate class

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

Nonresident alienBlack (non-Hispanic)American Indian or Alaskan NativeAsian or Pacific Islander (Asian only starting 2010-11)HispanicNative Hawaiian/Pacific IslanderTwo or more racesRace/ethnicity unknownTotal percent minority Total minority and nonresident alien

Academic Year 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Area and ethnic studies 6.4% 6.1% 6.2% 6.5% 5.5% 2.9% 6.3% 4.8% 4.9% 4.3% 4.0%

Computer and information sciences 1.8% 3.5% 4.6% 2.6% 6.0% 4.9% 2.5% 2.2% 3.7% 2.6% 3.7%

Foreign languages and literature 5.0% 2.8% 3.0% 4.7% 5.1% 5.6% 6.7% 5.0% 4.5% 3.4% 3.7%

English 10.3% 11.3% 7.3% 7.1% 8.7% 9.1% 6.3% 9.0% 6.7% 7.3% 7.7%

Biological/life sciences 11.2% 13.6% 12.5% 13.4% 12.6% 10.1% 11.4% 10.4% 10.2% 11.9% 12.1%

Mathematics 3.7% 3.3% 2.7% 4.2% 4.4% 2.9% 3.1% 4.8% 4.9% 3.4% 5.0%

Interdisciplinary studies 0.7% 0.9% 0.7% 0.0% 1.8% 1.4% 1.5% 1.2% 1.8% 0.8% 0.4%

Philosophy and religious studies 5.0% 3.8% 4.3% 5.1% 4.6% 2.7% 5.1% 4.0% 4.1% 4.1% 6.1%

Physical sciences 15.0% 12.7% 13.4% 11.9% 9.2% 12.1% 8.0% 12.6% 15.5% 12.3% 13.6%

Psychology 8.0% 5.9% 5.9% 6.9% 5.7% 6.0% 7.8% 8.0% 3.7% 7.9% 6.6%

Social sciences & History 26.7% 28.0% 30.0% 26.1% 27.5% 31.3% 32.7% 31.3% 31.7% 34.6% 30.1%

Visual and performing arts 5.7% 8.0% 9.3% 13.3% 8.9% 11.0% 8.6% 7.2% 8.3% 7.3% 7.2%

Percent of total majors, including double majors (broad discipline)

CIRP Freshman Survey Trends

CIRP Freshman Survey Trends

CIRP Freshman Survey Trends

Summary Observations

• In many ways our student body is similar to what it was.• We have seen slight growth in academic metrics (SAT, ACT), roughly

on a par with our competitors.• There is significant growth in our domestic and international diversity.• We have more students from wealthier families, with a corresponding

decline among middle-class families (and modest decline in the lowest income categories).

• There are measurable changes in some self-reported information from CIRP, such as religious activity, concern about financing college, GPA ambitions.

• More financial aid is being provided via grant; typically less is expected in “self-help” (loans, student work).

How do We Represent the College?Invitation for a discussion of Admissions materials

Possible times:

• Thursday, May 19, from 12:00 to 1:00

• Friday, June 3, from 12:00 to 1:00

Please send a note to scarpent@carleton.edu to let me know if you are available; we’ll choose the time we can get the most people.