Carleton Admissions

Located in a charming river town in southern Minnesota, Carleton’s campus is a perfect place to call home. You’ll never lack for things to do on campus or in Northfield, but it’s nice to know the bustling cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are only 40 miles away.

The center of campus life, Sayles is home to Carleton’s snack bar, bookstore, post office, and many other student gathering spots. It’s also where you’ll find the time-honored tradition of Friday Flowers, when students stuff each other’s mailboxes with blooms from a local florist.

Carleton students aren’t kidding when they say the “Libe” is their favorite place on campus. See an art exhibit, visit Oscar the penguin, or attend a lecture on creating comic books. Or spend a couple hours studying — or napping — in your favorite spot.

Just steps away from academic buildings and residence halls is the Cowling Arboretum, 800 acres of forests, wetlands, oak savannas, and prairies. The Arb offers endless opportunities for recreation and enrichment, and is a perfect place to enjoy Minnesota’s four seasons.

The Swedes say, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” At Carleton, we say winter means clearer nights for stargazing and a chance to take to the rink for hockey or broomball. It’s also a perfect excuse to stay inside for hot cocoa and a study session.