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Economic score
Macalester College is a private liberal arts college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Macalester College is selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Macalester College is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $57,134 10 years after enrolling, 9th in Minnesota, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Macalester College bachelor students earn 6% less than the national average. Macalester College is ranked 22nd in Minnesota.
Macalester College’s median net annual cost of $27,764 and average years to graduate of 4.1 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Macalester College sorted by number of graduates - Biology, Economics, Computer science, Poli Sci/Government, Mathematics, Neurobiology & Neurosciences - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$27,764
Average years to graduate
4.1
Geography/Cartography
Rank: #79
Economic score: 8.56
International studies
Rank: #44
Economic score: 10.15
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies.
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 11.06
Chemistry
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 35.65
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #225
Economic score: 116.96
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.1 years. 91% of all students graduate within 8 years. The graduation rate at Macalester College is 27% higher than the state average, and 22% above the average for all liberal arts colleges in the country.
At Macalester College, Pell Grant recipients represent 22% of the measured graduating class, 13% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Macalester College graduates within 4.1 years.
Macalester College is in the top 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Macalester College’s economic mobility score of 15.39 is calculated by adjusting the 2.47 economic score of lower-income students by the 22% pell grant recipients within the student body. Macalester College’s EMS of 15.39 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Macalester College pays $27,764 a year, $46,007 less than the $73,771 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $27,764
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Macalester College, 87% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $27,764 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 50% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,264. This is 4% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,799
Pell grants
$5,031
State grants
$5,965
Institutional grants
$40,649
Macalester College's selective admissions are indicated by their 31% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 9,046 applicants, of which 2,828 were admitted and 601 enrolled. Macalester College doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
59%
59%
First time
98%
59%
In-state
14%
68%
1st generation
13%
35%
White
53%
52%
Black
5%
14%
Hispanic
11%
15%
Asian
9%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
22%
12%