At a glance
Average net price
$32,149
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
87.1%
Admission rate
29%
Undergrad size
2,131
In-state tuition
$68,104
Out-of-state tuition
$68,104
Cost of attendance
$82,991
Median earnings (10y)
$63,878
Admissions
- SAT average
- 1,440
- ACT midpoint
- 31
- Retention
- 92.3%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
15 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by humanities & arts (36%), stem (34%), social sciences (29%).
- STEM34%
- Humanities & arts36%
- Social sciences29%
- Social sciences19.1%~407 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Biological sciences12.9%~274 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Interdisciplinary12.1%~258 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Psychology9.2%~195 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Computer science7.6%~162 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~150 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~125 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics5.3%~112 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- English4.5%~95 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~91 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~87 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- History3.3%~71 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Communication1.9%~42 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~37 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~25 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
35 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 130 | $73,129 | $20,829 |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 111 | $60,896 | $22,483 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 110 | $47,163 | $24,000 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 101 | $32,091 | $21,500 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 99 | $28,635 | $23,250 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. | Bachelor's | 74 | — | $26,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor's | 69 | $26,444 | $19,000 |
| International/Globalization Studies. | Bachelor's | 66 | $22,368 | $23,324 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | Bachelor's | 54 | $35,029 | $24,177 |
| Geography and Environmental Studies. | Bachelor's | 50 | — | — |
| Chemistry. | Bachelor's | 33 | — | — |
| Physics. | Bachelor's | 33 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 32 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor's | 32 | — | — |
| Sociology. | Bachelor's | 29 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. | Bachelor's | 28 | — | — |
| Philosophy. | Bachelor's | 28 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | Bachelor's | 28 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | Bachelor's | 27 | — | $20,000 |
| History. | Bachelor's | 27 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor's | 26 | — | — |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies. | Bachelor's | 23 | — | — |
| Anthropology. | Bachelor's | 22 | — | — |
| Education, General. | Bachelor's | 21 | — | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 21 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 21 | — | — |
| Music. | Bachelor's | 20 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 17 | — | — |
| Area Studies. | Bachelor's | 15 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies. | Bachelor's | 15 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | Bachelor's | 12 | — | — |
| Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 6 | — | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 5 | — | — |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | — | $24,116 | — |
| Geography and Cartography. | Bachelor's | — | $28,253 | $19,049 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About Macalester College
Macalester College is a mid-sized institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 2,131 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Social sciences, Biological sciences, Interdisciplinary.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at Macalester College — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $32,149 per year, which is above the national average compared to other U.S. institutions. Published tuition is $68,104 per year before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $82,991 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 87.1%, a strong completion outcome. 92.3% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $63,878 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
Macalester College confers degrees and certificates across 15 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Social sciences, Biological sciences, Interdisciplinary. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by humanities & arts (36% of credentials), stem (34% of credentials), social sciences (29% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
Macalester College accepts 29% of applicants, making it selective. Admitted students have an average SAT score around 1,440. The ACT midpoint for admitted students is roughly 31.
Location & campus
Set in Saint Paul, Minnesota (city), Macalester College draws students from across Minnesota and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about Macalester College
Q.How much does Macalester College cost?
The average net price at Macalester College is $32,149 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $82,991.
Q.What is the graduation rate at Macalester College?
Macalester College has a 6-year graduation rate of 87.1% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into Macalester College?
Macalester College admits 29% of applicants, which is considered selective.
Q.How much do Macalester College graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median Macalester College graduate earns $63,878 per year.
Q.What is tuition at Macalester College?
Published tuition is $68,104 in-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is Macalester College located?
Macalester College is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota (ZIP 55105).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with Macalester College at their official website.