Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Macalester College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 36% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 68th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MN wage index 1.10). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Macalester College
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $81,964 | $109,457 | +18% | #81 of 459 | #106 | $21,500 |
| Mathematics | $57,166 | $91,979 | +32% | #39 of 309 | #48 | $23,745 |
| Economics | $59,752 | $85,593 | +4% | #134 of 368 | #142 | $24,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $39,439 | $58,555 | -7% | #359 of 565 | #419 | $23,118 |
| Biology | $35,616 | $56,141 | -2% | #486 of 841 | #591 | $21,500 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $21,176 | $56,091 | -6% | #46 of 87 | #55 | $23,324 |
| Geography and Cartography | $30,053 | $52,557 | -9% | #101 of 117 | #102 | $19,049 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $29,559 | $45,632 | -17% | #249 of 265 | #253 | $19,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $45,450 | — | — | — | — | $24,177 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $38,027 | — | — | — | — | $26,000 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $29,487 | — | — | — | — | $20,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Macalester College Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $482,108
- Avg rent near campus: $1,341/mo — vs ~$877/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 55101 (6.6% cap, Saint Paul)
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🏆 Where Macalester College Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $64,678 | $64,678 |
| Room | $7,894 | |
| Board | $7,088 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $82,991 | $82,991 |
Financial Aid
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Macalester College's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Macalester College?
How much does it cost to attend Macalester College?
What is the graduation rate at Macalester College?
Is Macalester College a good school?
- Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (B+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (B+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Macalester College?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Macalester College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Macalester College
Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology