Quad

Macalester College

Saint Paul, MNQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forTop test scoresHigh graduation ratePell students graduate at the same rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 4 applicants admitted

Macalester admits about 1 in 4 applicants (29%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 94% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

29%

29%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

8,968

Admitted

2,558

Yield

22%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1350–1510

10001600
ACT middle 50%

30–34

1836
Applications +39% since fall 2014 · admit rate 36% → 29%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,131 undergrads, where 17% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

2.1K

undergrads · larger than 59% of colleges

Diversity index

0.70

Pell Grant

17%

below the median

First generation

13%

below the median

Large cityFirst-years live on campusNCAA D-III · Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.54 → 0.70 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (10% of graduates). 10 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 76% of colleges. 84% of faculty are full-time. Spends $25,033 a year on instruction per student.

10 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 76% of colleges

Most popular major

Research and Experimental Psychology, Other

10% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$109.5K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

84%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$25K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $45,674 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $21.4K more than the national median. The 87% who received grants paid $40,225 on average; the other 13% paid the full sticker price of $82,991.

45%

$45.7K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $21.4K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$82,991 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
54% · avg $37K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 45% of full price

Federal loans

36%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office
Cost steady · −2% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $63,878 ten years after enrolling, more than at 76% of colleges; 89% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.9 years of that salary.

89%

89%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$63.9K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$23K

≈ $244/month for 10 years

Retention

92%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 90% → 87% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 10% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 2%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 39% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 36% to 29%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −2% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +39%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 36% → 29%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.54 → 0.70

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Grinnell College

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Occidental College

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Macalester College (2026)

    Macalester College · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 173902 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything