Macalester College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Saint Paul, Minnesota · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
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Macalester College is a private nonprofit university in Saint Paul, Minnesota that admits about 28% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $32,149 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer and Information Sciences, General, Political Science and Government and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 91% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 10.8 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Macalester College is a private institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Macalester College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 28%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1420 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $32,149 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Macalester College?
Admitted students at Macalester College typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.
What does Macalester College weight in admissions?
Macalester College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Character/personal qualities
SAT and ACT scores Macalester College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 715. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–34. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1350 |
| 50th percentile | 1420 |
| 75th percentile | 1480 |
| % submitting SAT | 35% |
| 25th percentile | 30 |
| 50th percentile | 31 |
| 75th percentile | 33 |
| % submitting ACT | 24% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 53% |
| Top 25% of class | 89% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
| % submitting class rank | 26% |
How much does Macalester College actually cost?
Published tuition is $68,104 for in-state students and $68,104 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,760 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $32,149 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 17% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $70,632 |
| Room and board | $16,476 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $32,149 |
| Application fee | $0 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Macalester College
| Regular deadline | January 15 |
| Notification date | March 15 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 1 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 42% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Macalester College?
These predict outcomes at Macalester College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Macalester College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Macalester College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Political Science and Government and Biology, General. Across all programs, Macalester College confers roughly 372 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer and Information Sciences, General program report a median income of about $122,063 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 58 | $122,063 |
| Political Science and Government | 56 | $54,999 |
| Biology, General | 52 | $67,008 |
| Economics | 49 | $97,301 |
| Mathematics | 48 | $75,713 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 38 | — |
| International/Globalization Studies | 38 | $53,128 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 33 | — |
Is Macalester College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Macalester College disclosed 23 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 10.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 16 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in Minnesota parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for Macalester College
Common questions parents ask about Macalester College
What GPA do I need for Macalester College?
Admitted students at Macalester College typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.
What SAT or ACT score does Macalester College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 715. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–34.
How much does Macalester College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Macalester College after grants and scholarships is $32,149 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $68,104. Budget against the net figure.
Is Macalester College realistic for my child?
Macalester College admits 28% of applicants, so 670–760 SAT Math is target range and below 670 is a reach. Then check the $32,149 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Macalester College?
Macalester College accepts about 28% of applicants out of roughly 8,819 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is Macalester College test-optional?
Yes. Macalester College is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Macalester College?
About 91% of students at Macalester College graduate within six years. 92% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Macalester College?
Macalester College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 42%, compared with its overall rate of 28%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Macalester College look for in applicants?
Macalester College rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Macalester College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Macalester College is a private nonprofit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
What are the most popular majors at Macalester College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Macalester College by annual graduates are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Political Science and Government and Biology, General. The school awards about 372 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Macalester College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Macalester College reported 23 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 10.8 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Macalester College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers