Quad

Head-to-head

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Smith's yield is 14 pts higher than Macalester's

    Yield rate
  2. 2

    Smith has 6 pts more first-gen students than Macalester (19% vs. 13%)

    First-generation students
  3. 3

    Smith's SAT midpoint is 50 points higher than Macalester's

    SAT midpoint
  4. 4

    Smith admits 22% vs. 29% at Macalester

    Acceptance rate
  5. 5

    Smith is a bit larger (2,544 vs. 2,131)

    Undergrads
  6. 6

    Smith graduates 1 pts more of its students than Macalester (91% vs. 89%)

    Graduation rate

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Who's hardest to get into

Smith admits 22%, Macalester 29%; Smith's yield is higher, at 35%.

Acceptance rate
Macalester29%
Smith22%
Quad's selectivity
  • MacalesterVery selective
  • SmithHighly selective
SAT middle 50%Axis 1200–1600
Macalester
1350–1510
Smith
1420–1540
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • MacalesterSchool record required
  • SmithRigor and GPA very important

Who's on each campus

Smith is a bit larger than Macalester (2,544 vs. 2,131 undergrads) and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Macalester2.1K
Smith2.5K
Pell Grant share
Macalester17%
Smith18%

Majors and faculty

Research and Experimental Psychology leads at Macalester, and Computer Science at Smith; Smith has 8 students per faculty member to Macalester's 10.

Students per faculty member
Macalester10 to 1
Smith8 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • MacalesterResearch and Experimental Psychology, Other10%
  • SmithComputer Science8%

What each costs

Macalester and Smith cost about the same a year on average; Smith's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Macalester$45.7K
Smith$46.5K
Aid generosity
Macalester45%
Smith46%

What each pays off

Smith's former students earn more, a median $64K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 80% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Macalester$63.9K
Smith$64K
Graduation rate
Macalester89%
Smith91%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; both got more selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • MacalesterGrowing+39%
  • SmithGrowing+94%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why