Macalester College
Macalester College is a private liberal arts college in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1874, Macalester is exclusively an undergraduate institution with an enrollment of 2,068 students in the fall of 2025. The college has Scottish and Presbyterian roots and emphasizes internationalism and multiculturalism.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 29%
- Average net price: $32,149
- Undergraduate enrollment: 2,158
- Graduation rate (150%): 87%
- Graduation rate (200%): 90%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 89%
- Student to faculty ratio: 10:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $63,878
- Median earnings (8 years): $57,106
- Median earnings (6 years): $46,244
- Control: Private nonprofit
- Locale: City, large
- Calendar: Semester
- City: Saint Paul, MN
Majors and programs
The most common programs at Macalester College include Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Biology.
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (47 bachelor's) · median earnings $38,027 1 year after graduation · median debt $26,000
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (46 bachelor's) · median earnings $85,593 4 years after graduation · median debt $24,000
- Biology (43 bachelor's) · median earnings $56,141 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,500
- Computer Science (39 bachelor's) · median earnings $109,457 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,500
- Political Science (33 bachelor's) · median earnings $58,555 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,118
- Mathematics (27 bachelor's) · median earnings $91,979 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,745
- International (25 bachelor's) · median earnings $56,091 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,324
- Neuroscience (23 bachelor's) · median earnings $45,450 1 year after graduation · median debt $24,177
- Environmental Studies (22 bachelor's) · median earnings $45,632 4 years after graduation · median debt $19,000
- Geography and Environmental Studies (21 bachelor's) · median earnings $56,091 4 years after graduation · median debt $23,324
Degree mix: Computer Science 24%, Biological Sciences 41%, Psychology 29%, Communication 6%.
Award levels offered: Bachelor's.
Cost
Macalester College students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $12,877 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $12,877
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $11,441
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $13,050
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $26,584
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $43,253
- In-state tuition and fees: $68,104
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $68,104
- Books and supplies: $926
- On-campus room and board: $15,760
- Typical cost of attendance: $84,790
- Sticker vs net gap: 62%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 17%
- Federal loan recipients: 36%
- Average institutional grant: $41,439
- Average federal loan: $6,043
- Median debt at graduation: $23,000
Admissions
Macalester College admits 29% of applicants. Of students admitted, 22% enrolled.
- Applications: 8,968
- Admitted: 2,558
- Enrolled: 560
- Yield (first-choice signal): 22%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 2,158
- Women: 58%
- Commuter share (estimated): 42%
- Part-time undergraduates: 2%
- Age 25 and older: 23%
- Graduation rate: 87%
- Come back after freshman year: 92%
- First-generation: 13%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 63%
- Student to faculty: 10:1
- Professor salary: $137,679
- Associate professor salary: $102,757
- Assistant professor salary: $86,482
- On-campus housing capacity: 1,257
- Meal plan meals per week: 19
- Average SAT: 1,440
- Average ACT: 32
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Not available
Common questions
What is the Macalester College acceptance rate? Macalester College admits 29% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does Macalester College cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $12,877 a year after aid. Average net price is $32,149.
What majors does Macalester College offer? Popular programs include Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Biology, Computer Science, Political Science.
What is the average salary after Macalester College? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $63,878 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the Macalester College graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 89% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 87%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Macalester College official site: https://macalester.edu.