Macalester College

Macalester College is a private, nonprofit school in an urban setting in St. Paul, Minnesota. Macalester College was founded in 1874 and enrolls 2,049 undergrads and no graduate students. Macalester College offers housing for up to 1,300 students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing. On the weekends, about 90% of students stay on-campus and participate in campus events and social life.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Macalester College! Love music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of Macalester College's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Macalester College students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

There are no fraternities or sororities at Macalester College, so it might be a good choice if you're not interested in Greek life.

Planning to play sports? Macalester College has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Macalester College on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at Macalester College on the Student Life page.

Mark your calendar! January 15, 2022 is the final deadline to submit an application for Fall. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2022 should hear from Macalester College by March 31.

Is Macalester College a Good School?

The definition of a "good school" is different for different people. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how competitive an institution is, but they don't say much about the quality of the education or the student experience. There are a few statistics that can give you a good idea of how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its students.

Let's take a closer look at to get a better idea of what Macalester College offers and if it could be a good choice for you.

2021 Acceptance Rate for Macalester College

It is very difficult to get into Macalester College. Macalester College admitted 39% of all applicants in 2021. Last year, 6,373 students applied to Macalester College and 2,466 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Macalester College

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Macalester College, around 90% are still enrolled the next year. Macalester College's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 93%. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outlook Macalester College Graduates

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers.

Recent Macalester College grads have an average starting salary of $51,000 a year. The average starting salary for all 2021 graduates was around $60,000 a year, though these numbers vary widely by major.

Macalester College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. As of 2021, the total market value of the school endowment was $697.2 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. The school spends $22,586 for each full-time student enrolled.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Macalester College

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. Macalester College meets 99% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $57,297 a year.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $24,578 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Macalester College. Based on this information, how does Macalester College sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is Macalester College a good school for you?

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Where is Macalester College?

Macalester College is located in the urban setting of St. Paul, Minnesota.

If you want to see Macalester College for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 94 to St. Paul, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Macalester College and St. Paul are like without leaving home.

Considering Going to School in Minnesota?

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