Macalester College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It enrolls 2,131 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes93
Value20
Affordability12
Selectivity93
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 28.5%, Macalester College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
28.5%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1350 – 1510
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
30 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Macalester College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
4.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Macalester College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $32,149 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$32,149
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
36%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$68,104
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,760
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,270
Total Cost of Attendance
$82,991
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,772
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,982
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,098
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,527
Over $110,000
$44,880
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$11,97925%percentile
$23,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$30,37290%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500
↓ $3,500
No Pell $19,476
↓ $3,524
Female students $19,500
↓ $3,500
Male students $18,875
↓ $4,125
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($23,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
93% of full-time students who enrolled at Macalester College graduate within six years, and 93% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
93%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
93%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Macalester College earn a median of $63,878 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$63,878
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$54,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
6.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Macalester College is home to 2,131 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,131
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
13%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 50.1%1,067
International 14.7%314
Hispanic 10.9%232
Other 9.2%196
Asian 7.9%169
Black 6.2%133
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Macalester College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySaint Paul, Minnesota
Housing
Mostly residential1,304 beds on campus
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Macalester College offers
a varied set of programs:
36 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Macalester College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.0B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$104,945
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
200 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
77
39%
$134,897
Associate Professors
46
23%
$100,466
Assistant Professors
40
20%
$84,488
Instructors
30
15%
$68,866
Lecturers
4
2%
$77,990
No Rank
3
2%
$74,328
Pros & Cons of Macalester College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Macalester College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Frequently Asked Questions about Macalester College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Macalester College.
Is Macalester College hard to get into?
Macalester College is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 28.5%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Macalester College?
Macalester College has an acceptance rate of 28.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Macalester College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Macalester College scored between 1350 and 1510 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Macalester College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Macalester College scored between 30 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Macalester College cost?
The average net price after aid at Macalester College is $32,149 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Macalester College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,878 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $32,149 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Macalester College known for?
Macalester College is best known for its programs in Information Systems, Mathematics, Economics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Macalester College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Macalester College are $63,878, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Macalester College accredited?
Yes. Macalester College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Macalester College?
Macalester College enrolls 2,131 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Macalester College?
Macalester College graduates 93% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Macalester College a public or private college?
Macalester College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Macalester College located?
Macalester College is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
What programs does Macalester College offer?
Macalester College offers 36 distinct programs. The most popular include Information Systems, Mathematics, Economics.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Macalester College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Macalester College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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