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Summary
Macalester College is a private institution that was founded in 1874. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,005, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 53 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Macalester College's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 24. Its tuition and fees are $43,693 (2012-13).
Life at Macalester College is an intimate liberal arts experience near two big Minnesota college towns. The Macalester campus is a 10-minute drive from both downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis, two hubs of theatres, museums, and outdoor activities known as the Twin Cities. Freshmen and sophomores must live on the Macalester campus. There is no Greek system at Macalester, but students can get involved in dozens of other clubs and organizations. The Macalester sports teams, known as the Scots, compete in the NCAA Division III Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Football is not a big draw for student fans, but both the men’s and women’s soccer teams are competitive. Annual student events include Springfest and Founder’s Day, campus celebrations that include bagpipe music and food. Bagpipes are a common theme on campus; the instrument heralds the beginning and end of major events, and students can take bagpipe lessons for free. To get off campus, students can take a class each semester at one of the other private colleges in the Twin Cities: Augsburg College, Hamline University, St. Catherine University, and University of St. Thomas. Keen on an international focus, Macalester College regularly enrolls students from more than 90 countries, and about 60 percent of the student body studies abroad.
For students that need extra assistance for exams or graduate school applications, the on-campus MAX Center offers free individual and group tutoring sessions. In addition, financial assistance is guaranteed to every student, as the college pledges to meet the full need of each enrollee. Notable alumni of Macalester include diplomat Kofi Annan, the seventh Secretary General of the United Nations; former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale; and talent agent Ari Emanuel, for whom the Entourage character Ari Gold was modeled.
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Macalester has a long history and tradition of providing an international education in a global community. That history was reinvigorated over six decades ago when the president of the college wrote that "the high task of every returning Macalester student and every new student is to prepare for the duties of world citizenship." Today, the College is singularly positioned to educate students for success in a global economy. Our students benefit from a rigorous curriculum designed to include international perspectives, study abroad with substantial academic and cultural experience, faculty with worldwide experience and a community engaged in issues that matter. They come to Macalester to learn, engage, explore, invent, have fun, make friends, devise, design, discover and gain the experience, skills and knowledge needed to fulfill their dreams and their greatest ambitions. Discussions in and out of the classroom are enriched by the experiences and perspectives of students who are citizens of over 90 countries. Macalester's ideal location in a vibrant residential neighborhood of a major metropolitan area is unusual for a highly-selective liberal arts college. Minutes from downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis, it offers students a wealth of research and internship opportunities in business, finance, medicine, science, government, law, the arts and more. Students come from around the world, across the nation and nearby to study in an environment that supports inspiration, success and service to local, national and international communities. The college provides a comprehensive approach to preparing students to flourish as vital citizens of the world. Macalester does this in an atmosphere that fosters collaboration and success. It inspires ambitious, committed and talented young people who have the potential to change the world, and prepares them to do just that. They also benefit from a rich network of alumni, who include: a Vice President of the United States (Walter Mondale) and a Secretary-General of the United Nations who was a Nobel Peace Prize winner (Kofi Annan); members of Congress; leaders of fortune 500 companies; award-winning actors, authors, artists, poets, producers and playwrights; Fulbright and Rhodes scholars; Peace Corps volunteers and scientists. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1874 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2011 Endowment | $669,005,000 |
Applying
When applying to Macalester College, it's important to note the application deadline is January 15, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 15. The application fee at Macalester College is $40. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 35.0 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 35.0% |
| Application deadline | January 15 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | January 15 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Macalester College is 10:1, and the school has 70.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Macalester College include: Economics, General; Political Science and Government, General; Psychology, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; and Mathematics, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 94.0 percent.
Student Life
Macalester College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,005, with a gender distribution of 40.5 percent male students and 59.5 percent female students. At this school, 62.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 38.0 percent of students live off campus. Macalester College is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Macalester College.
| Total enrollment | 2,005 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA III |
Campus Info & Services
Macalester College offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Macalester College also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Macalester College, 16 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Macalester College.
| Students who have cars on campus | 16% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Macalester College, 70.3 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $30,331.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $43,693 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $9,726 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
