Macalester College

Saint Paul, MN · Private · Large city

Private institution in Saint Paul, MN · 2,131 undergraduates · 28% acceptance rate · $63,878 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 4%Graduation rate (4-year)
Top 6%Acceptance rate
Top 7%Full-time retention
Top 8%Average SAT

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $29,9801,725th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $64,9082,005th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $64,9082,005th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $78,9001,900th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $23,000997th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $63,878407th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $46,244783rd highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 90.4%80th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 94.6%137th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 28.2%104th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 142478th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 3176th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 2,131904th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 10.0:1436th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 17.3%1,851st highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 5 mi (MSP)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in Minnesota#2

Applying

EDNov 1
ED IIJan 1
EANov 1
RDJan 15

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 37 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science	bachelors	$71,015	$71,575
MathematicsMathematics & Statistics	bachelors	$57,318	$52,107
EconomicsSocial Sciences	bachelors	$53,358	$64,493
Geography and CartographySocial Sciences	bachelors	$35,060	$32,569
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciences	bachelors	$33,281	$35,274
Neurobiology and NeurosciencesBiological Sciences	bachelors	$29,685	—
International/Global StudiesMultidisciplinary Studies	bachelors	$28,443	$34,526
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences	bachelors	$26,739	$27,222
Communication and Media StudiesCommunications	bachelors	$26,353	$21,508
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNatural Resources	bachelors	$24,421	—
Psychology, GeneralPsychology	bachelors	$24,421	$31,133
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$18,771	—

Campus facts

Religious affiliation: Presbyterian Church (USA)source
Founded in 1874source
Athletic nickname: "Scots"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
School colors: Blue and Orangesource
Mascot: Coo the Highland Cowsource
Motto: "Natura et Revelatio cœli gemini (Latin)"source
Campus size: about 53 acressource
Athletic conference: MIACsource
A [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program institutionsource
A Space-grant]]}} institutionsource
Plays for the "The Book of Knowledge{{cite web|url=https://miacathletics.com/sports/2022/4/20/about-honor-history-rivalry-trophies-book-of-knowledge.aspx|title=The Book of Knowledge|work=MIAC|publisher=Minnesota Interactive Athletic Conference|access-date=September 13, 2025}}" (since 1898)source
Plays for the "Paint Bucket{{cite web|url=https://miacathletics.com/sports/2022/4/20/about-honor-history-rivalry-trophies-the-paint-bucket.aspx|title=The Paint Bucket|publisher=Minnesota Interactive Athletic Conference|access-date=September 27, 2025}}" (since 1887)source
Notable alum: Kofi Annansource
Notable alum: Walter Mondalesource
Notable alum: Danai Gurirasource
Notable alum: Q294411source
Notable alum: Peter Bergsource

Athletics — 11 sports

NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.