Carleton College

One North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057

http://www.carleton.edu/

School Description

Provided by Carleton College

Founded in 1866, Carleton College is a small, private liberal arts college in the historic river town of Northfield, Minnesota. Best known for its academic excellence and warm, welcoming campus community, Carleton offers 36 majors and 15 concentrations in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Carleton is Minnesota’s third oldest college after Hamline University and the University of Minnesota. Carleton was founded on October 12, 1866, by the General Conference of the Congregational Churches of Minnesota, which—after considering locations in Zumbrota, Mantorville, Cottage Grove, and Lake City—chose Northfield for the home of its new college. (Note: Carleton is now a non-denominational college with no formal religious affiliation.)

The mission of Carleton College is to provide an exceptional undergraduate liberal arts education. In pursuit of this mission, the College is devoted to academic excellence, distinguished by the creative interplay of teaching, learning, and scholarship, and dedicated to our diverse residential community and extensive international engagements.

Residential life at Carleton is the heart of campus life. 90% of our students live in college housing, and they spend more time there than anywhere else on campus. On campus, enjoy full meals in our two dining halls, or grab a quick bite at the Sayles-Hill snack bar & grill. Off-campus, explore a full menu of restaurant options in Northfield and the Twin Cities.

Make fitness fun with Carleton's 50 student-organized Club Sports and an Intramural Sports league open to all...or work up a sweat with the training facilities and classes at the gyms and Rec Center.

As one current student put it, “Don’t expect Northfield to be New York City.” But unless you're expecting the bustle of a large metropolitan area, you'll find a surprising amount of life in this quaint college town. With a vibrant main street just steps away, and the St. Olaf College campus just a three-minute bus across the river, Northfield offers a steady stream of events: concerts, plays, art exhibits, sports matches, lectures, film screenings and more.

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Carleton College

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
This article is about Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. For Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, see Carleton University.

Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The College currently enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. Robert A. Oden is the current President. According to 2008 U.S. News and World Report rankings, Carleton College ranks as the #8 liberal arts college in the United States.

History

The school was founded on November 14, 1866, by the Minnesota Conference of Congregational Churches as Northfield College. The first students enrolled in fall 1870.

In 1870, the first college president, James Strong, travelled to the East Coast to raise funds for the college. On his way from visiting William Carleton of Charlestown, Massachusetts, Strong was badly injured by a train. Impressed by Strong's survival, Carleton donated US$50,000 to the fledgling institution in 1871, and the Board of Trustees renamed the school in his honor.

The first two graduates, James J. Dow and Myra A. Brown, were married six months after their 1874 graduation on Christmas Day.

On September 7, 1876, the James-Younger Gang, led by outlaw Jesse James, attempted to rob the First National Bank of Northfield. Joseph Lee Heywood, Carleton's Treasurer, was acting cashier, and was shot dead for refusing to open the safe door. Carleton later named a library fund and the group of donors who have named Carleton in their wills after Heywood.

The nation's oldest student-run pub, The Cave, was founded at Carleton in 1927 in the basement of Evans Hall, and continues to host live music shows and other events several times each week.

In 1942, Carleton purchased land in Stanton, about east of campus, to use for flight training. During the war, several classes of male students went through air basic training at the college. The Stanton Airfield remains open, having been sold by the college in 1944.

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Midwest
Setting:
Small Town Setting
Type:
Private
Size:
Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Knights

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
1,930
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Available
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 32,649
Students Receiving Aid:
76%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 30
Selectivity:
Most Selective
> More Admissions

Degree Programs at Carleton College

Bachelor's Level Programs

  • Arts & Humanities

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    • English Language and Literature See more schools with programs in English Language and Literature
      • English Language and Literature
        A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples.
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    • Film and Theater See more schools with programs in Film and Theater
      • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
        A program that focuses on the general study of dramatic works and their performance. Includes instruction in major works of dramatic literature, dramatic styles and types, and the principles of organizing and producing full live or filmed productions.
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    • Foreign Languages See more schools with programs in Foreign Languages
      • Chinese Language and Literature
        Students in this major study the Chinese language and its associated dialects and literature, including Chinese philology, Archaic and Classical Chinese, Modern Standard Chinese (Guóyu), Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Wu, Min, Hunanese, Hakka, other dialects and pidgins, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • Classics and Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
        This general program focuses on the literary culture of the ancient Graeco-Roman world and the Greek and Latin languages and literatures and their development prior to the fall of the Roman Empire.
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      • French Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the French language and related dialects and creoles. Includes instruction in French philology, Metropolitan French, Canadian French, African and Caribbean Creoles, French regional dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • General Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
        A general program that focuses on one or more of the Romance languages of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. Includes instruction in philology, linguistics, dialects and pidgins, literature, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • German Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the German language and related dialects as used in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, neighboring European countries containing German-speaking minorities, and elsewhere. Includes instruction in German philology; Old, Middle, and High German; Plattdeutsch and other regional dialects; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • Japanese Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Japanese language. Includes instruction in Japanese philology; Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Japanese; Japanese dialects; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • Latin Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Latin language and literature from its origins through its decline and its current ecclesiastical usage, as a secular and/or theological subject. Includes instruction in Latin philology, related Italic dialects, Late Roman and Medieval Latin, and modern Church Latin.
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      • Russian Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Russian language. Includes instruction in Russian philology, Old Russian, Modern Russian and dialects, literature, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
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      • Spanish Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Spanish language and related dialects. Includes instruction in Spanish philology, Modern Castillan, various Latin American dialects, regional Spanish dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.
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    • History See more schools with programs in History
      • History
        A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.
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    • Music See more schools with programs in Music
      • General Music
        A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. Includes instruction in music, dance, and other performing arts media.
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    • Performing Arts See more schools with programs in Performing Arts
      • General Dance
        A general program that prepares individuals to express ideas, feelings, and/or inner visions through the performance of one or more of the dance disciplines, including but not limited to ballet, modern, jazz, ethnic, and folk dance, and that focuses on the study and analysis of dance as a cultural phenomenon. Includes instruction in technique, choreography, Laban notation, dance history and criticism, and dance production.
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    • Philosophy See more schools with programs in Philosophy
      • General Philosophy
        A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.
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    • Religion/Religious Studies See more schools with programs in Religion/Religious Studies
      • General Religion/Religious Studies
        A program that focuses on the nature of religious belief and specific religious and quasi-religious systems. Includes instruction in phenomenology; the sociology, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, literature and art of religion; mythology; scriptural and textual studies; religious history and politics; and specific studies of particular faith communities and their behavior.
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    • Visual Arts See more schools with programs in Visual Arts
      • Art History, Criticism and Conservation
        Students of Art History study of the historical development of art as a social and intellectual phenomenon. Art History programs include the analysis of works of art, and art conservation, art history research methods, connoisseurship, the preservation and conservation of works of art, and the study of specific periods, cultures, styles, and themes.
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      • Fine/Studio Arts
        A program that prepares individuals to generally function as creative artists in the visual and plastic media. Includes instruction in the traditional fine arts media (drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, CAD/CAM) and/or modern media (ceramics, textiles, intermedia, photography, digital images); theory of art; color theory; composition and perspective; anatomy; the techniques and procedures for maintaining equipment and managing a studio; and art portfolio marketing.
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  • Interdisciplinary Studies

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    • Cognitive Science
      A program that focuses on the study of the mind and the nature of intelligence from the interdisciplinary perspectives of computer science, philosophy, mathematics, psychology, neuroscience, and other disciplines. Includes instruction in mathematics and logic, cognitive process modeling, dynamic systems, learning theories, brain and cognition, neural networking, programming, and applications to topics such as language acquisition, computer systems, and perception and behavior.
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    • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
      Any instructional program that is derived from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field.
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    • Neuroscience
      A program that focuses on the interdisciplinary scientific study of the molecular, structural, physiologic, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of the brain and nervous system. Includes instruction in molecular and cellular neuroscience, brain science, anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, molecular and biochemical bases of information processing, behavioral neuroscience, biology of neuropsychiatric disorders, and applications to the clinical sciences and biomedical engineering.
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  • Life Science

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    • Biology See more schools with programs in Biology
      • Biology/Biological Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
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  • Mathematics and Statistics

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    • General Mathematics
      A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
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  • Natural Sciences

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    • Chemistry See more schools with programs in Chemistry
      • General Chemistry
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
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    • Geology See more schools with programs in Geology
      • Geology/Earth Science
        A program that focuses on the scientific study of the earth; the forces acting upon it; and the behavior of the solids, liquids and gases comprising it. Includes instruction in historical geology, geomorphology, and sedimentology, the chemistry of rocks and soils, stratigraphy, mineralogy, petrology, geostatistics, volcanology, glaciology, geophysical principles, and applications to research and industrial problems.
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    • Physics See more schools with programs in Physics
      • General Physics
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
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  • Social Sciences

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    • Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies See more schools with programs in Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies
      • American/United States Studies/Civilization
        This program studies the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of the United States and its Pre-Columbian and colonial predecessors, including the flow of immigrants from other societies.
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      • Asian Studies/Civilization
        This four year program focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of the peoples of the Asian Continent. Asian Studies programs include the study of Asian diasporas overseas.
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      • Ethnic, Cultural Minority, and Gender Studies
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      • Latin American Studies
        A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the Hispanic peoples of the North and South American Continents outside Canada and the United States, including the study of the Pre-Columbian period and the flow of immigrants from other societies.
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      • Other Ethnic, Cultural Minority, and Gender Studies
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      • Women’s Studies
        A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of women, and the development of modern feminism in relation to the roles played by women in different periods and locations in North America and the world. Programs may focus on literature, philosophy, and the arts as much as on social studies and policy.
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    • Economics See more schools with programs in Economics
      • General Economics
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
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    • International Relations and Affairs See more schools with programs in International Relations and Affairs
      • General Political Science and Government
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies 0f specific political institutions and processes.
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      • International Relations and Affairs
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of international politics and institutions, and the conduct of diplomacy and foreign policy. Includes instruction in international relations theory, foreign policy analysis, national security and strategic studies, international law and organization, the comparative study of specific countries and regions, and the theory and practice of diplomacy.
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    • Psychology See more schools with programs in Psychology
      • General Psychology
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
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    • Sociology See more schools with programs in Sociology
  • Technology

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    • Information Systems Operation and Management See more schools with programs in Information Systems Operation and Management
      • General Computer Science
        A general program that focuses on computers, computing problems and solutions, and the design of computer systems and user interfaces from a scientific perspective. Includes instruction in the principles of computational science, and computing theory; computer hardware design; computer development and programming; and applications to a variety of end-use situations.
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Students

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 52%
Men 48%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 79%
Asian 9%
African-American 5%
Hispanic 4%
Other 3%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
Out-of-State 74%
In-State 26%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Minnesota 26%
Illinois 8%
California 5%
Wisconsin 5%
Washington 4%
Percent of Students International: 5%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 86%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (Midwest Conference)
Basketball (Midwest Conference)
Baseball (Midwest Conference)
Track (Midwest Conference)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Published Tuition and Fees:
$ 32,649    
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 32,460    
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 189    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 3,326 15%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 2,488 8%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 15,908 64%  
Student Loans:
$ 3,942 44%  
Any Aid:
  76%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 29% (Most Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 78%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 660, Math: 660
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 760, Math: 740

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 30.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Recommended
High School GPA: Recommended
High School Rank: Recommended
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Required
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

College Advice

Yahoo

Question: Should I attend Carleton College or University of Michigan?

I want to pursue a medical school after my undergraduate years and do not know if i have more of a better chance at a small school like Carleton or a big school like the University of Michigan. Anybody familiar with medical school acceptance rates for each? I'm not quite sure how to add details but Michigan would be in-state while at carleton i would be playing soccer as well. But Michigan would be covered by my parents and at Carleton i would only come out 40,000 in debt which isn't considerably terrible, and as well i'm unsure whether a direct liberal arts school is the way to take. My decision date is this Friday, and it seems to be arriving faster and faster
9 months ago

Best Answer

Would tuition at U of M be in-state our out-of-state for you? The cost should be a consideration, unless you're one of the people for whom cost is no consideration... U of M is of course bigger and generally more competitive than most schools. It is one of the premier public universities in the country, up there with UC Berkeley and UVA. If the competition and big name appeal to you, then definitely lean toward U of M. Ann Arbor is a great town too, as far as I'm concerned. Plenty of culture and activities. And great beer. If the big school atmosphere doesn't sound right to you, you might be happier in a smaller town and smaller school. UM and Carleton look a bit like apples and oranges in that respect. While I don't know a lot about Northfield, Carleton ranks in the top 10 of liberal arts colleges, so I think it comes down to fit, rather than some random guess as to med school outcomes. Getting into med school comes down to how well you are able to study and absorb material, and how you score on the MCAT, and has less to do with where you complete undergrad. If you excel at U of M, getting into med school somewhere should be a breeze.

Best Answer

I think that the east coasts schools have more of a "fend for yourself" type of attitude. Carleton, on the other hand, I feel has an academic environment that is more cooperative. It seems to be that academics are looked upon as enjoyable in Carleton and something that connects each student. In east coast schools, academics are something that should be taken to a very serious level and something that brings high competition.

Question: What do you think of Carleton College?

It seems like a nice place. What do you think?
10 months ago

Best Answer

The admittance is around 25%, so it has some prestige.

Question: Can I get into Carleton College?

I'm a Junior in High School, and I want to know if I have a good chance of getting into Carleton. I have about a 3.9 average, and I'm taking 2 AP classes and 1 Honors class this year. I am on my county's youth board of supervisors, and I've done other youth leadership clubs and activities as well. I am on the cross country team, but I don't think I'm good enough to play for college. I took a practice SAT, and got around 1850. Next year I plan on taking 4 AP classes. I don't think I will need financial aid. I'm out of state. What are my chances of getting in?
13 months ago

Best Answer

You have a fairly good chance of getting into Carleton. Your grades are excellent, you have AP classes, and you are involved in your community. Make sure to write a VERY strong and unique essay, the admissions committee loves strong essays. I had a 3.7 GPA and took only 1 AP class but I wrote an incredible essay that allowed me to get into Carleton. Carleton likes students with unique qualities and talents, no matter how bizarre. Show them why you aren't like every other kid with good grades and you will have a good shot at getting admitted. Also, Carleton is in a bit of an economic struggle right now and will be reducing the amount of financial aid awarded as well as increasing the number of students admitted. This plays perfectly for you in that you don't need financial aid (it isn't a need-blind admissions school) and the acceptance rate will increase. If you have any more questions about Carleton contact me at jordanr@carleton.edu (I love the school and you should definitely go if you get accepted!)

Question: Do you know anything about Lewis & Clark College or Carleton College?

L & C is in Oregon, and Carleton is in Minnesota. I'm interested in these schools and I hope someone can give me some input! Thanks so much, answers are much appreciated :) Also if you are familiar with the weather around Portland, Oregon and Minnesota that'd be extremely helpful. Thanks.
46 months ago

Best Answer

Carleton has a great academic reputation (nationally), Lewis and Clark much less so. If I were looking at grad school applicants from each school, with similar test scores and GPAs, and both had great letters of recommendation, I'd favor the candidate from Carleton because of the nationally-recognized rigor of its programs of study.

Photos

  • 300PX|Gould Library
    300PX|Gould Library [source]
  • Carleton College
    Carleton College [source]
  • Skinner Memorial Chapel.
    Skinner Memorial Chapel. [source]
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Carleton College
Northfield, MN 55057
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