Macalester College: the complete school report for parents

What does Macalester College actually weigh in admissions?

Macalester College rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 1 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Macalester College's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What is the Macalester College waitlist really like?

Macalester College offered a place on its waiting list to 765 applicants and 446 accepted one. 82 were ultimately admitted. That is 18.4% of those who waited.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 42.0% of ED applicants were admitted against 28.1% overall, a gap of 14 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.

What will Macalester College actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $32,149 a year at Macalester College after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $70,632. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 99.5% of demonstrated need on average.

, which the federal data puts at about $244 a month in repayment Macalester College’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Macalester College pay off?

Graduates earn a median $63,878 ten years after entering, and $46,244 at six years. 80% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 89% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$122,063 to $47,198, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Macalester College:

College Scorecard, by field of study.

Will my child actually graduate?

92% of first-years return for a second year. 91% within six (Fall 2019 cohort).

How big are the classes?

The student-faculty ratio is 10:1, and 84% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

What is life at Macalester College like?

2,068 undergraduates. 13% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $71,692.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
• Early Decision is worth 14 points of admit rate, but it is binding and removes any ability to compare aid offers.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 82 of 446 who waited were admitted, about 18%.
• Its highest-earning major returns $122,063 five years out against $47,198 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about Macalester College

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