Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
No application fee
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 25%, women at 31%.
Yield
22% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Where you stand
How Macalester reads a record
The high school record is required; GPA, class rank, and a college-prep program are considered. Scores are optional. 29% of first-years sent an SAT and 23% an ACT.
What they look at
- High school GPA
- Considered
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Considered
- College-prep program
- Considered
- Recommendations
- Required
- Essay
- Considered
- Legacy status
- Not considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Not considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1430 on the SAT, 260 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)