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Macalester College

Macalester College
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www.macalester.edu

Macalester College
Office of Admissions
1600 Grand Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105

Request information

phone: 651.696.6357
toll-free: 800.231.7974
fax: 651.696.6724
email admissions

 

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Programs and Degrees Offered

Undergraduate Programs
  • African Studies concentration
  • American Studies major
  • American Studies minor
  • Anthropology major
  • Anthropology minor
  • Art History major
  • Art History minor
  • Art major
  • Art minor
  • Asian Studies major
  • Asian Studies minor
  • Biology major
  • Biology minor
  • Chemistry major
  • Chemistry minor
  • Chinese major
  • Chinese minor
  • Classics major
  • Classics minor
  • Cognitive Science concentration
  • Community and Global Health concentration
  • Computer Science major
  • Computer Science minor
  • Critical Theory concentration
  • Dance minor
  • Data Science minor
  • Economics major
  • Economics minor
  • Educational Studies major
  • Educational Studies minor
  • English major
  • English minor
  • Environmental Studies major
  • Environmental Studies minor
  • Food, Agriculture & Society concentration
  • French major
  • French minor
  • Geography major
  • Geography minor
  • Geology major
  • Geology minor
  • German major
  • German minor
  • History major
  • History minor
  • Human Rights and Humanitarianism concentration
  • International Development concentration
  • International Studies major
  • Japanese major
  • Japanese minor
  • Latin American Studies major
  • Latin American Studies minor
  • Legal Studies concentration
  • Linguistics major
  • Linguistics minor
  • Mathematics major
  • Mathematics minor
  • Media and Cultural Studies major
  • Media and Cultural Studies minor
  • Middle East Studies and Islamic Civilization concentration
  • Music major
  • Music minor
  • Neuroscience major
  • Performance Technologies and Design minor
  • Philosophy major
  • Philosophy minor
  • Physics major
  • Physics minor
  • Political Science major
  • Political Science minor
  • Pre-Engineering
  • Pre-Health Professional
  • Pre-Law
  • Pre-Medical
  • Psychology major
  • Psychology minor
  • Religious Studies major
  • Religious Studies minor
  • Russian major
  • Russian minor
  • Sociology major
  • Sociology minor
  • Spanish major
  • Spanish minor
  • Statistics minor
  • Theater and Dance major
  • Theater minor
  • Urban Studies concentration
  • Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies major
  • Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies minor
Overview

Overview

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.

Macalester College at a glance

Enrollment

  • Undergraduate: 2,174

Student distribution

  • Domestic students: 58% White, 8% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 3% African-American, 6% multiracial, <1% American Indian/Alaska Native, <1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, <1% race/ethnicity unknown
  • International students are 16% of total enrollment

Academics

  • Student/faculty ratio: 10:1
  • Average class size: 17
  • Number of undergraduate majors: 37

First-year student profile

  • Percentage from Minnesota: 18%
  • Percentage who live on campus: 100%
  • ACT: 61% of students submitted; middle 50% of enrolled students had ACT composite scores between 29 and 33
  • SAT: 52% of students submitted; middle 50% ranges were 660-770 for math, 650-730 for evidence-based reading and writing

Cost & financial aid

  • 2019-20 undergraduate tuition and fees: $56,292
  • 2019-20 room and board: $12,592
  • Percentage of first-time, full-time students receiving grants and scholarships: 83%

Religious affiliation

None

Graduate outcomes

Use LinkedIn’s alumni tool* to explore what Macalester graduates majored in and the types of careers they have and with which companies.

*based only on those who have accounts on LinkedIn

Academics

Academics

Degrees offered

  • Bachelor of Arts

View a list of all majors and degrees or Macalester's detailed program information.

5 largest majors:
  • Economics
  • Political Science
  • Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • Biology

Student/faculty ratio

10:1

Average class size

17

Faculty

188 full time, 76 part time; 94% of full-time faculty members hold the doctorate or highest degree in their field

Pre-professional programs

  • Pre-engineering
  • Pre-law
  • Medical fields

Intercampus agreement

  • Students may take one course per term at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with the approval of the Registrar's Office.
  • The Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) is a partnership with Augsburg University, St. Catherine University, Hamline University, Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas. The partnership allows students to register for courses at the other colleges.

Honors program

Students of exceptionally high achievement are invited to undertake a special project of independent research or creative work in their senior year. Their work is evaluated by a small committee of faculty with special expertise in the field of the student's work.

Study abroad programs

Approximately 60 percent of Macalester students study abroad for at least one semester before graduating. Last year Mac students studied abroad in more than 50 countries (not including the United States), on every continent except Antarctica.

In addition, 24 percent of Macalester students hold citizenship in another country with 96 countries represented in the student body, making Macalester one of the most global campuses in the nation. Graduates reap the benefits of a global education in the job market and at top graduate programs.

Internships/career services

At more than 200 and acquire knowledge in active professional roles with organizations in the nonprofit, government or private sectors. Each year over 400 students do an internship for credit. By graduation, three out of four Macalester students report having completed at least one internship, with the majority done for academic credit.

Accreditation & approval

  • North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
Admission & cost

Admissions

Application: www.macalester.edu/admissions/apply/

Application deadlines: Early Decision I: Nov. 15; Early Decision II: Jan. 1; Regular Decision: Jan. 15

Application fee: $40 (waived if Part 1 is submitted by Nov. 15)

Admissions tests required: ACT or SAT

Earning college credit in high school:

View a summary table of what is recognized and accepted as well as how many of those credits can be applied toward your degree.

Transfer criteria (credits, GPA):

Students must complete at least one full semester as a full-time, degree-seeking student at another college before applying. No more than the equivalent of 64 semester hours may be transferred.

Transfer process (deadlines and materials)

Fall Deadline: Apr. 15. Applicants use the Common Application for Transfer Students.

2019-20 cost

Net price calculator: macalester.edu/financialaid/estimate

Undergraduate tuition and fees: $56,292

Undergraduate room and board: $12,592

Financial aid

Percentage of first-time, full-time students receiving grants and scholarships: 83%

Financial aid application deadline: Jan. 22 (Regular Decision)

FAFSA code: 002358

Financial aid information

Each admitted student receives a financial aid package that meets 100 percent of demonstrated need for financial aid. Two out of three Macalester students receive need-based financial assistance. The average financial aid award for full-time students with demonstrated need in 2018-19 was $47,763. Grants and scholarships made up 85 percent of the average financial aid package. More information

Student involvement

Student organizations

More than 100 student organizations including:

  • Academic clubs
  • Communications and publications organizations
  • Special interest groups
  • Religious groups
  • Speech
  • Theatre arts organizations

Athletic programs

Conference membership

  • NCAA Division III
  • Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)
  • Midwest Athletic Conference (football only)

Men's varsity

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross-country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field (indoor and outdoor)

Women's varsity

  • Basketball
  • Cross-country
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field (indoor and outdoor)
  • Volleyball
  • Water polo

Intramurals

  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Floor hockey
  • Racquet ball
  • Table tennis
  • Ultimate Frisbee

Co-Rec:

  • Dodgeball
  • Soccer (indoor and outdoor)
  • Softball

Club sports

  • Crew (men's and women's)
  • Ice hockey (men's and women's)
  • Lacrosse (women's)
  • Nordic skiing (men's and women's)
  • Rugby (men's and women's)
  • Tennis (men's and women's)
  • Ultimate Frisbee (men's and women's)
  • Volleyball (men's and women's)
  • Water polo (men’s only at club level; women have varsity team)

Fine arts offerings

  • Musical performance: 11 ensembles associated with music programs
  • Theater: 225 students participate in 4-5 productions per year with themes suggested by students
  • Dance: 175 students participate in two productions per year with themes suggested by students

Student organizations

107 organizations in 2018-2019, including:

  • Art Alliance
  • Bad Comedy
  • Fresh Concepts – improv
  • Bodacious hip hop dance team
  • Climbing Club
  • Outing Club
  • Program Board
  • Mac Players – theatre
  • Musical Theatre Group
  • Macalester Traditions (Trads) – a capella
  • Mac Weekly – Student Newspaper
  • Scotch Tape and Sirens– a capella
  • Medicinal Melodies
  • WMCN – Macalester College Radio
Social media

 

Facebook

Macalester College

 

Tweets by @Macalester

Others

  • Macalester Instagram
  • Macalester YouTube channel
  • Macalester Flickr photostream

Our Colleges

  • Augsburg University
  • Bethany Lutheran College
  • Bethel University
  • Carleton College
  • College of Saint Benedict
  • College of St. Scholastica
  • Concordia College, Moorhead
  • Concordia University, St. Paul
  • Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Hamline University
  • Macalester College
  • Minneapolis College of Art and Design
  • Saint John's University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • St. Catherine University
  • St. Olaf College
  • University of St. Thomas
Marco Hernandez

“Macalester is a community full of passionate people who want to change the world for the better. I feel at home here.”

Marco Hernandez
Macalester College – Latin American Studies and Political Science
Hometown: San Pablo, Cal.

Macalester Campus News

  • Our Favorite Minnesota Books of 2019 | Mpls/StPaul | December 11, 2019
  • Robert Rose, educator and president of the Minneapolis teachers' union, dies at 93 | Star Tribune | December 4, 2019
  • Gaelynn Lea on music, representation, and more | Connect Savannah | December 4, 2019
  • How'd your favorite band get its name? | City Pages | December 4, 2019
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