Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota. 2,131 undergraduates. Admits 29% of applicants.

Minnesota colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
91%Graduation rate36 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$27,851Average net price per year40% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$69,951Median earnings 10 years after starting19% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$21,500Median debt at graduationAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($21,500) equals 31% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($69,951).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$15,715
$30,000–$48,000$4,569
$48,001–$75,000$15,825
$75,001–$110,000$28,539
Over $110,000$43,770

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $70,862.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate91%54%
Return for second year92%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$52,752$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$69,951$58,912
Median debt at graduation$21,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

37 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer and Information Sciences, General51$88,260$122,165$14,500
Mathematics40$61,957$88,697$23,250
Economics57$70,570$88,271$22,501
Neurobiology and Neurosciences26$37,802$80,971$18,500
Biology, General49$38,645$63,770$18,000
Political Science and Government41$49,958$59,890$21,000
International/Globalization Studies43$47,704$59,703$21,000
Natural Resources Conservation and Research34$32,705$54,300$17,875
Geography and Cartography—$47,065——
Chemistry7$32,245——
Research and Experimental Psychology52$24,786—$22,531
Area Studies8———
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies3———
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication13———
Education, General13———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services12———
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics9———
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics2———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics7———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics16———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics12———
English Language and Literature, General18———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies19———
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies13———
Computational Science8———
Geography and Environmental Studies26———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other1———
Philosophy8———
Religion/Religious Studies4———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences6———
Physics11———
Anthropology8———
Sociology16———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft9———
Fine and Studio Arts15——$19,500
Music10———
History21———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

29%Admission rate
1,440Average SAT of admitted students
30–34ACT middle 50%
10:1Students per faculty member
17%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in Minnesota

Carleton CollegeNorthfield · net price $25,295 · grad rate 89%Walden UniversityMinneapolis · net price $29,899 · grad rate 100%College of Saint BenedictSaint Joseph · net price $25,301 · grad rate 83%Saint Johns UniversityCollegeville · net price $26,748 · grad rate 71%The College of Saint ScholasticaDuluth · net price $26,830 · grad rate 67%Academy CollegeBloomington · net price $29,853 · grad rate 71%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does Macalester College cost per year?
The average net price at Macalester College, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $27,851 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Macalester College graduates earn?
Former Macalester College students earn a median of $69,951 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Macalester College?
91% of Macalester College students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Macalester College graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Macalester College is $21,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.