Macalester College
Macalester College is a private university in Saint Paul, Minnesota, enrolling about 2,131 students. Admission is selective, with an acceptance rate of about 28.52% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $63,878 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $68,104
- 2024 Average Net Price: $32,149 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 28.52% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,131 98.5% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 87.10%
- Average SAT Score: 1440
Macalester College: what the data shows
Common questions about Macalester College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Macalester College?
Macalester College is located in Saint Paul, MN (ZIP 55105-1899).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Macalester College public or private?
Macalester College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Macalester College cost?
Published tuition: $68,104.
Average net price after aid: $32,149.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $13,772 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $11,982 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $11,098 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $20,527 |
| $110,001+ | $44,880 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $272,416.
How hard is it to get into Macalester College?
Admission rate: 28.52%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1440 and midpoint ACT 31.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Macalester College?
Total enrollment: 2,131 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Macalester College?
150%-time completion rate: 87.10%.
First-year retention: 92.3%.
What do graduates of Macalester College earn?
Median earnings: $46,244 six years after entry; $63,878 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $23,000.
17.23% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Macalester College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (688 completions)
- General Economics (57 completions)
- CIP 422799 (52 completions)
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (51 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (49 completions)
- CIP 302001 (43 completions)
- Social Sciences (41 completions)
- General Mathematics (40 completions)
- CIP 030103 (34 completions)
- CIP 261501 (26 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Macalester College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 28.52%; completion rate 87.10%; median earnings $63,878 at 10 years; net price $32,149. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$68,104
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Macalester College was $68,104.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$32,149
2024 Value
In 2024 Macalester College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $32,149.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$128,596 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$32,149 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$272,416 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Macalester College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
17.23% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
35.57% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Macalester College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Macalester College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $45,388 | $45,388 | $22,653 |
| 2014 | $47,195 | $47,195 | $25,954 |
| 2015 | $48,887 | $48,887 | $24,934 |
| 2016 | $50,639 | $50,639 | $27,004 |
| 2017 | $52,464 | $52,464 | $26,865 |
| 2018 | $54,344 | $54,344 | $25,783 |
| 2019 | $56,292 | $56,292 | $28,426 |
| 2020 | $58,478 | $58,478 | $27,764 |
| 2021 | $60,518 | $60,518 | $23,188 |
| 2022 | $62,500 | $62,500 | $29,697 |
| 2023 | $64,908 | $64,908 | $29,980 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
28.52% Acceptance Rate
This institution is highly selective, accepting fewer than 3 in 10 applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1440
ACT Average: 31
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.7 - 3.9
Estimated Median GPA: 3.85
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Macalester College in 2024 is 2,131 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
92.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
73.71% 100% Completion Time
87.10% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 73.71% of students graduating from Macalester College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Macalester College.
Return on Investment
$23,000 Median Student Debt
$63,878 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
36.01% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
396.73% Return on Investment
3.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Macalester College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
General Economics: 57 completions
CIP 42.2799: 52 completions
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services: 51 completions
General Biological Sciences: 49 completions
CIP 30.2001: 43 completions
Social Sciences: 41 completions
General Mathematics: 40 completions
CIP 03.0103: 34 completions
CIP 26.1501: 26 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 688 completions
Most popular programs at Macalester College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Macalester College graduates.
About
Macalester College is a private non-profit institution located in Saint Paul, MN, offering 41 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 2,131 students. It is selective, with an admission rate of 28.52%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1440. The institution maintains a 87.10% graduation rate. Approximately 17.23% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Saint Paul, MN 55105-1899
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 87.10% graduation rate, Macalester College demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
FAQ
How much does Macalester College cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $68,104 and average net price is $32,149 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Macalester College?
The admission rate is 28.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Macalester College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Macalester College reports midpoint SAT about 1440 and midpoint ACT about 31.
What do graduates of Macalester College earn?
Median earnings are $46,244 six years after entry and $63,878 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Macalester College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 87.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Macalester College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,000.
How big is Macalester College?
Total enrollment is about 2,131 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Macalester College public or private?
Macalester College is a private nonprofit institution located in Saint Paul, MN.
Is Macalester College an HBCU?
No. Macalester College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Macalester College a tribal college?
No. Macalester College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Macalester College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Macalester College does not meet that proxy (reported share 10.9%).
Is Macalester College religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Macalester College: Presbyterian Church (USA).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.