Saint Paul, MN
Macalester College was founded in 1874 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and enrolls roughly 2,068 students from 49 states and 107 countries. It flies a UN flag alongside the U.S. flag on campus in a stated commitment to internationalism, and is recognized as a top producer of Peace Corps volunteers. Macalester describes itself as "a global leader among liberal arts colleges," built on three founding pillars: internationalism, scholarship, and service.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Macalester College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 35% submitted SAT scores, 24% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Decision I: Nov 1, 2026
- Early Action: Nov 1, 2026
- Early Decision II: Jan 1, 2027
- Regular Decision: Jan 15, 2027
Confirm on Macalester College's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Macalester College's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Macalester College weighs your application
From Macalester College's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Macalester College weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Macalester College look for in applicants?
Per Macalester College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates academic GPA, rigor of secondary school record as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Macalester College's acceptance rate?
Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN admits approximately 29% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Macalester College?
Per Macalester College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1350–1480 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Macalester College?
Per Macalester College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 30–33 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Macalester College cost?
Macalester College's total cost of attendance is reported at $82,991 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for Macalester College?
Macalester College's deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1, 2026; Early Action Nov 1, 2026; Early Decision II Jan 1, 2027; Regular Decision Jan 15, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Macalester College require students to live on campus?
Yes -- Macalester College requires students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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