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Macalester College
St. Paul, MN
Macalester College is a private liberal arts college located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Established in 1874, the college has a rich history and is known for its commitment to academic excellence, internationalism, and social responsibility. With an enrollment of around 2,000 students, Macalester offers a diverse and inclusive community that fosters intellectual curiosity and personal growth.
At Macalester, students have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of academic programs and majors across multiple disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and fine arts. The college also emphasizes interdisciplinary studies, encouraging students to make connections between different fields of knowledge. With a student-faculty ratio of just 10:1, students benefit from small class sizes and close interaction with professors.
Beyond academics, Macalester provides numerous opportunities for students to be involved in extracurricular activities, including over 100 student-led organizations and clubs. The college is committed to social justice and global citizenship, reflected in its strong emphasis on community engagement and international experiences. Macalester's location in the vibrant Twin Cities metropolitan area offers students numerous cultural, social, and internship opportunities, ensuring a well-rounded college experience. Overall, Macalester College provides a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment for students to thrive academically, personally, and socially.
Located in St. Paul, MN and set in an urban environment, Macalester College is a private four-year college. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 28%. The freshman retention rate at Macalester College is 95% and the six-year graduation rate is 90%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is April 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most important things about Macalester College.
Quick Facts
2,142
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
28%
Acceptance Rate
$67,874
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
90%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Learning as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. Learn some relevant facts about admission at Macalester College.
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,285 in 2024. Macalester College has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Macalester College provides a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 30% and ACT scores 28%. 59% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 38% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 3% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 75, 23 between 24-29 and 2 in the range between 18-23.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is April 1.
28%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The percentage of first-year students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for Macalester College was 95%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 90%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the best fit for you. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Macalester College in 2024 was 2,142.
That year, the institution had 81.2% of out-of-state students. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 2,142, 283 of which were foreign students. 10 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 866 male and 1,155 female full-time students in 2024, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 182 Asian students and 123 Afro-American students in 2024. 241 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 179 identified with more than one race. The school also had 5 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 4 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 12 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Macalester College.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $67,874 in 2024. Since this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2024 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $230.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2024, room and board cost at Macalester College amounted to $15,760 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2024 came to $7,456 for one academic year.
| Tuition | $ 67,874 |
| Room and Board | $ 15,760 |
| Total Expense | $ 83,634 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Macalester College.
According to the most recent data, 299 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $62,533.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
1,294 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Macalester College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 1,307. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $2,106,014, and state $883,342. The students of Macalester College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $65,690,216, and external in the amount of $1,154,933.
$20,034
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
99 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2024. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 35 full-time freshmen. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $10,459,819. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $685,431 USD.
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Macalester College was 10:1: that means 10 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 246 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 106 men and 140 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Macalester College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some info about students' life at Macalester College.
Its campus is 53 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
This school has 90 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization that is most favored by students is WMCN - Macalester College Radio, followed by Outing Club and X-ertion Dance Team. Other popular student organizations at this school are Latinx Student Union and Program Board.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Macalester College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Macalester College, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol available 24/7. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Macalester College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Macalester College.
Career Counselling
At Macalester College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Acquiring information about the potential income after graduation can help you decide if a specific school is the right one for your career aspirations.
Within six months of graduation, this school's students can expect an average base annual starting salary of 62,000 USD.
$62,000
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Macalester College is located in St. Paul, MN.
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Macalester College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Macalester College is 67,874 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Macalester College is 28%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Macalester College is 95%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.