Macalester College

www.macalester.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$67,874

4.94% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$40,225

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

28.5%

8,968 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

2,138

98.5% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

87.1%

540 Graduates

About

Macalester College is a higher education institution located in Ramsey County, MN. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Macalester College were Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (57 degrees awarded), Other Research & Experimental Psychology (52 degrees), and General Computer & Information Sciences (51 degrees).

In 2024, 688 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Macalester College. 61.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 38.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (350 degrees), 4.73 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (74 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Macalester College is $67,874, which is $39,696 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,178).

Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus Baccalaureate Colleges

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Macalester College is $67,874, which is $39,696 more than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,178).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $40,225.

In 2024, 88% of undergraduate students attending Macalester College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 36% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$67,874

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Macalester College was $67,874. The cost of tuition at Macalester College is $39,696 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,178).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Macalester College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$40,225

2024 Value

4.29%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Macalester College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $40,225. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Macalester College grew by 4.29%.

This chart compares the average net price of Macalester College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$15,477

Room and Board

$926

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Macalester College was of $15,477 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 10.5% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $926. The cost of books and supplies increased by 8.56% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Macalester College (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

88%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

36%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

88% of undergraduate students at Macalester College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 1.15% with respect to 2023, when 87% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Macalester College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Macalester College received 8,968 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 10.7% annual growth. Out of those 8,968 applicants, 2,558 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 28.5% acceptance rate.

There were 2,138 students enrolled at Macalester College in 2024. 29% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Macalester College has an overall enrollment yield of 21.9%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

28.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

2,558

Accepted Out of 8,968

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Macalester College was 28.5% (2,558 admissions from 8,968 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 28.2%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 10.7%, while admissions grew by 11.9%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Macalester College (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

29%

Submission Percentage (2024)

162

Scores Submitted (2024)

29% of enrolled first-time students at Macalester College in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Macalester College had a total enrollment of 2,138 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Macalester College is 2,106 students and the part-time enrollment is 32. This means that 98.5% of students enrolled at Macalester College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Macalester College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 49.9% White, 10.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.79% Two or More Races, 7.9% Asian, 6.22% Black or African American, 0.281% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0935% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Macalester College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (28.4%), followed by White Male (22.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (6.71%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

98.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Macalester College in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 2,138 students. The full-time enrollment at Macalester College is 2,106 and the part-time enrollment is 32. This means that 98.5% of students enrolled at Macalester College are enrolled full-time compared with 78.9% at similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Macalester College (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

92%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Macalester College was 92%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Baccalaureate Colleges (75%), Macalester College had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Macalester College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
1,067 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
232 enrolled students
Two or More Races
188 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Macalester College is 49.9% White, 10.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.79% Two or More Races, 7.9% Asian, 6.22% Black or African American, 0.281% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0935% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Baccalaureate Colleges is 50.5% White, 15.6% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.2% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 20 students (0.935%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 158 more women than men received degrees from Macalester College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Macalester College is white (350 degrees awarded). There were 4.73 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (74 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Macalester College is Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (57 degrees awarded), followed by Other Research & Experimental Psychology (52 degrees) and General Computer & Information Sciences (51 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Macalester College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Language & Linguistics (58 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (34 degrees), and Math & Statistics (40 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Macalester College are Elementary & middle school teachers (161,670 people), Postsecondary teachers (150,138 people), Secondary school teachers (150,087 people), Other managers (146,985 people), and Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (116,258 people).

The most specialized majors at Macalester College in 2024 are Language & Linguistics (58 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (34 degrees), Math & Statistics (40 degrees), English (37 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (11 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Macalester College are Surgeons, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Logisticians, Economists, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Macalester College are Language & Linguistics (58 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (34 degrees), Math & Statistics (40 degrees), English (37 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (11 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Macalester College are Elementary & secondary schools (429,386 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (288,655 people), Computer Systems Design (160,163 people), Legal services (100,216 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (94,631 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Macalester College.

Most Common (2024)

Econometrics & Quantitative Economics
57 degrees awarded
Other Research & Experimental Psychology
52 degrees awarded
General Computer & Information Sciences
51 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Macalester College was Econometrics & Quantitative Economics with 57 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Macalester College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

265

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

423

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 265 degrees were awarded to men at Macalester College, which is 0.626 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (423).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Macalester College by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 35 degrees were awarded to men at Macalester College in General Computer & Information Sciences, which is 2.19 times more than the 16 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 36 degrees were awarded to men at Macalester College in General Biological Sciences, which is 2.77 times more than the 13 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

83%

100% Completion Time

88%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 83% of students graduating from Macalester College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 88% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 88% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Baccalaureate Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
350 degrees awarded
Asian
74 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
65 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Macalester College is white (350 degrees awarded). There were 4.73 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (74 degrees).

0.727% of degree recipients (5 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
278 degrees awarded
White Female
255 degrees awarded
White Female
244 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Macalester College is white female (278 degrees awarded). There were 1.09 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (255 degrees).

Operations

Macalester College has an endowment valued at nearly $882M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 97.9M (11.1%) compared to the 7.58% average return (3.75M on 49.5M) across all Baccalaureate Colleges.

In 2024, Macalester College had a total salary expenditure of 140M. Macalester College employs 77 Professors, 47 Associate professors and 39 Instructors. Most academics at Macalester College are Male Professor (41), Female Professor (36), and Female Instructor (28).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Macalester College are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 86 employees, Management, with 85 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 62 employees.

Endowment

$882M

2024 Endowment

5.63%

growth from 2023

Macalester College has an endowment valued at about $882M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Macalester College grew 5.63% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $832M higher than than the median endowment of Baccalaureate Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Macalester College (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$60.6M

2024 Salaries

7.82%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Macalester College paid a median of $60.6M in salaries, which represents 43.4% of their overall expenditure ($140M) and a 7.82% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 2.08% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 4.79% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$21.3M

Instructional Salaries

198

Number of Employees

In 2024, Macalester College paid a total of $21.3M to 198 employees working as instructors, which represents 35.2% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $522k (3.48%) for similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Macalester College were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 86 employees, Management with 85 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 62 employees.

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