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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.
Macalester College is a private four-year college located in St. Paul, MN and set in an urban environment. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 28%. The freshman retention rate at Macalester College is 92.28% and the six-year graduation rate is 87%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is March 15.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into Macalester College.
Quick Facts
2,144
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$70,632
Tuition
87%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Here are the most relevant information you have to know about admission at Macalester College.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,558 in 2025. Macalester College has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. 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. This eminent institution with a rich history offers an unmatched learning experience to its students.
Test Scores
29% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 23% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 67% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 30% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 3% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 75, 21 between 24-29 and 4 in the range between 18-23.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 708 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 710.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Macalester College was 92.28% in 2025, 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. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 87%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 2,144 students.
That year, the institution had 80% of students coming from another state. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 2,144, 314 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 19 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 879 male and 1,119 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 169 Asian students and 133 Afro-American students in 2025. 232 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 188 identified with more than one race. The school also had 6 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 20 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some important facts on Macalester College costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
Tuition in 2025 was $70,632 for full-time domestic students. Macalester College is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $230 in 2025.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
At Macalester College, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $16,476. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school added up to $8,722, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 70,632 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,476 |
| Total Expense | $ 87,108 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for many students. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Macalester College, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 311 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $65,170.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
1,239 students gained 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 was found to be 1,248. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $2,332,889, and state $731,614. The students of Macalester College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $66,307,821, and external in the amount of $1,211,715.
$19,291
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-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.
106 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 44 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $12,193,674. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $787,437 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
None:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
The faculty of this school consists of 248 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 106 male and 142 female faculty members. 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
Not everything at Macalester College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some info about students' life at Macalester College.
Its campus is 53 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
The student organization that has the biggest membership is Mac Bike, followed by APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans) and Afrika. Other popular organizations among the students at Macalester College are Climbing Club and Outing Club.
For individuals with a penchant for acting, there is a drama club offering an opportunity to get involved. Interested in media and communication? Macalester College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Macalester College has a number of services vital for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. 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. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career.
Job Placement
Finding out some information about the expected post-graduation salary can help you decide if a particular school suits your career objectives.
The starting salary for graduates employed within six months of graduating at this school averages 57 USD.
$57
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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According to the latest information, the tuition for Macalester College is 70,632 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Macalester College is 28%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Macalester College is 92.28%.
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.