Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Macalester is 1.5× more selective than Occidental
Acceptance rate - 2
Macalester's yield is 4 pts higher than Occidental's
Yield rate - 3
Occidental's SAT midpoint is 20 points higher than Macalester's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- MacalesterVery selective
- OccidentalVery selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1200–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 26–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- MacalesterTest-optional
- OccidentalTest-optional
How they read a record
Macalester
The high school record is required; GPA, class rank, and a college-prep program are considered.
Occidental
and GPA are both very important; class rank is important; tests are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Macalester | Occidental |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Considered | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Important |
| College-prep program | Considered | Considered |
| Recommendations | Required | Important |
| Essay | Considered | Very important |
| Legacy status | Not considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Important |
| Demonstration of competencies | Not considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why