# Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute

Residential pre-college programs at Carleton College in Northfield, MN: 3-week for-credit courses (6 credits, $5,300) for sophomores and juniors, plus 1-week non-credit sessions ($1,500) open to first-years.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Carleton College |
| Category | other |
| Cost | $5,300 |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 9–11 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | Northfield, MN |
| Time commitment | ~40 hours/week |
| Program dates | 2026-07-05 to 2026-07-24 |
| Apply | https://www.carleton.edu/summer/pre-college/apply/ |

## About this program

# Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute

The Summer Liberal Arts Institute (SLAI) brings high school students to Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota for residential pre-college programs taught by Carleton faculty. Students choose between 3-week for-credit courses and 1-week non-credit courses, living on campus and experiencing collaborative, discussion-driven liberal arts learning. In 2026, the 3-week program runs July 5-24 and the two 1-week sessions run July 12-17 and July 19-24.

## What You'll Do

- Take a college-level interdisciplinary course taught by Carleton faculty
- Earn 6 college credits in the 3-week for-credit track
- Live in Carleton residence halls with meals, activities, and full residential support included
- Collaborate with peers on projects culminating in final presentations
- Sample liberal arts college life in a classic small-college town

## Who Should Apply

3-week for-credit programs admit current high school sophomores and juniors; 1-week non-credit programs also admit current first-year students. Applicants may not turn 19 before August 1 of the program year. 2026 tuition is $5,300 for the 3-week program and $1,500 for the 1-week program, covering tuition, housing, meals, books, materials, and activities; need-based scholarships (partial to full) are available for domestic students.

## Outcomes

For-credit students finish with 6 transferable college credits and a faculty relationship; all participants gain experience with college-level academics, residential independence, and a taste of selective liberal arts admissions.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute cost?

Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute costs $5,300. Many paid programs offer need-based financial aid or fee waivers — check the official site before ruling it out.

### Who is eligible for Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute?

Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute is open to high school students in grades 9–11. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute online or in person?

Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute is an in-person program based in Northfield, MN. Expect a time commitment of roughly 40 hours per week.

### How do I apply to Carleton Summer Liberal Arts Institute?

Apply directly through Carleton College's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

---

Last updated: 2026-07-06.
Canonical page: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/carleton-summer-liberal-arts-institute
Source: ExtracurricularHub (https://extracurricularhub.com) — a free directory of 1,826 verified extracurricular programs for high school students. Cite the canonical page above; always confirm binding details on the program's official site.