Macalester College is a selective liberal arts college with a long history of providing an international education in a global community. Our students come from more than 90 countries and all 50 states. They gain the experience and skills to lead fulfilling lives and change the world.
Set in a beautiful neighborhood just a few miles from the city centers of St. Paul and Minneapolis, a metropolitan area of 3.5 million, students have valuable access to an enormous array of internships and research opportunities within a few miles of campus. The campus is a lush display of stately trees and sustainable flower beds. It feels like a beautiful park between two great cities.
The United Nations flag has flown over campus since 1950, a symbol of Macalester's commitment to world peace and understanding. The college was among the first to fly this new flag.
Tomorrow's great leaders will be innovative thinkers who understand the global dynamics of a complicated world. These skills have long been nurtured and practiced at Macalester. More than 60% of students study abroad for 15 weeks or more going to over 50 countries, providing time for substantial experience and learning in another culture. Many courses partner with businesses and organizations in the Twin Cities, providing additional resources and real-world experience to gain knowledge and leadership skills.
The college namesake, Charles Macalester, was a trusted advisor and friend to eight U.S. presidents, including Abraham Lincoln. Graduate Kofi Annan was a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and secretary general of the United Nations. Danai Gurira is an actress, playwright and activist who recently said, ?The Macalester moment is that singular moment of realization and self-discovery that may stay with you for the rest of your life?that moment where your heart breaks through and defines your destiny if you dare to listen.?
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Campus Visit Coordinator
1600 Grand Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105
Experience College Life
Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center
Leonard Center (athletic facility)
Bateman Plaza (our front patio)
Idea Lab in DeWitt Wallace Library
Mississippi River, 20 min. walk down historic Summit Ave.
Grand Ave/Crocus Hill 3 miles of shops, restaurants
Uptown in Mpls., trendy and artsy shops, etc.
Mall of America, complete w/amusement park, aquarium
1. Coffee houses just a few doors from campus. 3. Grand Ave runs through campus and also boasts art galleries, live music and a movie theater. 5. Mall of America, largest shopping mall in the country.
Campus Tours
8am-5pm M-F and 9am-12:30 Saturdays
8002317974
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Faculty and Coach Visits
Class Visits
Overnight Dorm Stays
Transportation
Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
Seniors and transfer applicants can begin their application and receive a $40 fee waiver by submitting the Macalester Part 1 form by November 15. The form is available at macalester.edu/apply along with detailed instructions for completing the application.
The best preparation for college is a balanced and rigorous high school curriculum. It is important to take classes in all five academic core subjects: English, mathematics, history or social science, laboratory science, and foreign language. Honors, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses should be taken if available.
Macalester requires applicants to submit results from either the ACT or SAT. Essay sections are not required for either exam. Macalester evaluates each applicant's record in their high school context, paying particular attention to each applicant's curricular opportunities and performance in context. There is no minimum GPA because school systems vary a great deal.
Macalester practices holistic admissions review. Factors such as academic performance in high school, teacher recommendations, essays, leadership experience, extracurricular involvement and standardized testing results are thoroughly reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
There is an admissions staff member assigned to every state and region of the world, ready to answer your questions and help you through the application process. Find your counselor at macalester.edu/admissions/meetthestaff.
Overview
SAT & ACT Test Scores
Testing Policies
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 15
Early Decision II — January 1
Regular — January 15
Other Admission Factors
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Academic GPA
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
African Studies
Arabic
Asian Languages & Cultures
Astronomy
Biochemistry
Cognitive Science
Community & Global Health
Creative Writing
Critical Theory
Dance
Data Science
Food, Agriculture, and Society
Greek
Hebrew
Human Rights & Humanitarianism
International Development
Latin
Legal Studies
Middle Eastern Studies & Islamic Civilization
Performance Design & Technologies
Portuguese
Pre-Engineering
Pre-Law
Pre-Medicine
Statistics
Theater
Urban Studies
Majors and Degrees Offered
Degree offered = Bachelor of Arts
Majors
American Studies
Anthropology
Applied Mathematics and Statistics
Art and Art History
Asian Studies
Biology
Chemistry
Chinese
Classical Mediterranean and Middle East
Computer Science
Economics
Educational Studies
English
Environmental Studies
French
Geography
Geology
German Studies
History
Individually Designed Interdepartmental
International Studies
Japanese
Latin American Studies
Linguistics
Mathematics
Media and Cultural Studies
Music
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Religious Studies
Russian Studies
Sociology
Spanish
Theater and Dance
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Faculty and Class Information
Graduation Rates
Majors
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AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
Asian Studies/Civilization.
Latin American Studies.
Women's Studies.
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BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
Neuroscience.
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COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Mass Communication/Media Studies.
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COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
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EDUCATION.
Education, General.
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
Creative Writing.
English Language and Literature, General.
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FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Chinese Language and Literature.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
French Language and Literature.
German Language and Literature.
Japanese Language and Literature.
Linguistics.
Russian Language and Literature.
Spanish Language and Literature.
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HISTORY.
History, General.
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MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
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MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies.
International/Global Studies.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
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NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Studies.
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PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
Geology/Earth Science, General.
Physics, General.
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PSYCHOLOGY.
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Anthropology.
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics.
Geography.
Political Science and Government, General.
Sociology.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other.
Fine/Studio Arts, General.
Music, General.
Students Say
The Twin Cities make it “easy for a class to assign first-hand learning experiences” that require tasks like “visiting certain neighborhoods, analyzing architecture, [and] going to museums.” “Geology overnight camping trips to Wisconsin and the Boundary Waters” are also class highlights students mention. Macalester’s Idea Lab offers a “creative space to play with ideas in a non-traditional format,” or as one student puts it, “an upscale, college version of an arts-and-crafts area.”
Degrees
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Experiential
Internship
Prominent Alumni
Academic Rating
Careers
Graduation Rates
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Students Say
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Macalester's 2019-2020 comprehensive fee $68,884 includes tuition & fees of $56,292 and room/dining charges of $12,592.
Financial Aid
Macalester's robust financial aid program supports the enrollment of bright, talented students from around the world, regardless of their family's financial background. Macalester provides a financial aid package equal to 100% of demonstrated financial need for every admitted student.
Two out of three Macalester students receive need-based financial aid, based on an evaluation of family financial circumstances. The average total financial aid package for the 2018-2019 school year was $47,763. Financial aid eligibility varies widely with some students receiving much more than the average and some receiving much less.
Students are strongly encouraged to use the financial aid eligibility estimating tools found at macalester.edu/financialaid/estimate for a more specific estimate of financial aid eligibility. Macalester participates in MyinTuition, a quick and easy way to obtain a ballpark estimate of financial aid eligibility.
Macalester also provides a significant merit-based scholarship program. Around half of Macalester students received a merit-based scholarship from Macalester in 2018-2019, averaging $12,652 (most merit scholars also qualified for need-based financial aid). All applicants for admission are considered for Macalester's merit scholarships. No additional application is required.
Dates
Required Forms
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Available Aid
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
State Loans
Financial Aid Rating
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
Two current students wrote this about Macalester. We come from all over the world, every U.S. state, and right down the street. We are from cities and rural towns, upper class communities and first generation families, blue states, swing states, and red states.
Our diversity of backgrounds, identities, and perspectives combine to form a vibrant community united by our dedication to academic excellence, civic engagement, multiculturalism, and internationalism. Every person you meet on campus will, if you let them, talk to you for hours on end about some topic that fascinates and inspires. While we are passionate about many different topics, each of us has at least one subject that drives us forward to discover more, delve deeper, and always ask another question.
We constantly strive to create a better world and find new ways to build bridges across differences. We celebrate time to gather with friends and continue broadening our experiences. We are a community of 2,100 unique students. There is a Macalester identity that seems to transcend difference and unite us under one common, if slightly unconventional roof.
There are over 100 student organizations available. They reflect the diverse interests of our students and range in focus from academic, adventure, art, athletics, chess, comedy, consulting, culture, dance, entrepreneurship, gaming, Habitat for Humanity, investing, Mac radio station, Model United Nations, music, performance, philosophy, politics, Quiz Bowl, recreation, religion, rocketry, scrabble, service, slam poetry, software development, sports, ultimate frisbee, water polo and more.
Macalester has 19 varsity athletic teams as well as club and intramural sports. Most varsity teams compete in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and football competes in the Midwest Athletic Conference.
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Students Say
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
Macalester's location is one of the most desirable in the Twin Cities. Adjacent to campus, Summit Avenue has the largest concentration of Victorian architecture in the nation. Grand Avenue is home to an abundance of restaurants and shops. Many faculty and staff live on the winding streets adjacent to campus. Minneapolis and St. Paul are known as two of the best biking cities, with numerous scenic bike paths. Within five blocks of Macalester, there are at least 60 restaurants, eight coffee houses, five places of worship, two bookstores, a tea shop, movie theater and stores for art supplies, flowers, bike repairs and music, as well as a pharmacy, Ace Hardware, Breadsmith, Jamba Juice, Patagonia, Whole Foods and more.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
Macalester offers extraordinary resources for classroom learning, laboratory experience, original research, field work, dining options, athletics, and more. Students work in state-f-the-art labs with impressive equipment. They enjoy a dining hall fill with natural light and healthy food options. They participate and varsity and club sports in an award-winning athletic & wellness complex. And they benefit from a library that has kept pace with the needs of today's students and faculty.
Macalester's facilities and equipment include:
A bronze foundry
Science Center where students conduct cutting-edge research over multiple disciplines with impressive equipment, including these and much more:
Coherent 899-29 ring laser
Beckman CEQ Capillary DNA Sequencer
PANalytical PW2400 X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer
Magneto-Optical cryostat
Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) system
Beckman Coulter Cytomics FC500 Flow Cytometer
Leica DMRA2 Fluorescent microscope with advanced image processing
FEMTOLASERS femtosecond Ti-Sapphire laser
Center for Religious and Spiritual Life
Award-winning library that houses an Idea Lab, film collection, archives, rare books and special collections Bikes that can be checked out from the library Peace Pole
Ordway Field Station, 278 acres to conduct research and advance the protection of natural environments Observatory with DFM 16? telescope, and public nights for viewing planets, galaxies and more
Foucault pendulum
Several large dinosaur skeletons
Econometrics lab, Ethnographic lab, and GIS lab
A ballroom for large audiences and student dances
Seven language houses: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish
Athletic and wellness complex ranked fourth in the nation, with a fitness center, fieldhouse, performance gym, tennis courts, pole vault, indoor track and natatorium
Campus Center with primary dining hall serving food from around the world, vegetarian meals, stir fry, soups, salad bar, cereals, frozen yogurt and more
Off-Campus Opportunities
A New York student recently wrote this about off-campus opportunities: ?I've been to a Grammy-winning classical performance by the Saint Paul Chamber orchestra and a big pop concert with Pentatonix. I've been to the Super Bowl and seen a show at the Guthrie Theater. I can take a walk by the Mississippi River or Minnehaha Falls, stroll through an art museum like the Walker or the Minneapolis Institute of Art and it's all within a short bus ride or even walking distance from campus. There are so many opportunities within just a few minutes. Our location is also amazing for internships and research.?
Campus Life
Housing Options
Cooperative
Disabled Student
Theme Housing
Wellness Housing
Students Say
Special Needs Admissions
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Sports
Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Football
Golf
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Cross Country
Diving
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Water Polo
Student Services
LGBT Support Groups
Minority Support Groups
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Navy ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: University of St. Thomas - St. Paul
Sustainability
Data provided by Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), STARS®, as of March, 2023.
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/