Bates vs. Macalester College

Should I go to Bates College or Macalester College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bates or Macalester College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Carleton College Bowdoin College Grinnell Oberlin Kenyon Colby College St Olaf Oxy Minnesota Reed Wesleyan University Case Western
Bates College vs. Macalester College comparison
Bates College Macalester College College 3 College 4
Bates College Macalester College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Bates Macalester College
Location Lewiston, ME Saint Paul, MN
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 1,790 2,175
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #43 #97
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bates.edu macalester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bates Macalester College
Tuition (In State) $61,066 $62,270
Tuition (Out of State) $61,066 $62,270
Room & Board $17,224 $14,000
Avg Net Price $27,491 $36,095
Avg Grant Aid $51,414 $40,262
% Receiving Grant Aid 36% 89%

Admission

Bates Macalester College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,273 8,434
Admitted 1,137 2,397
Acceptance Rate 13.7% 28.4%
Enrolled % 45.6% 23%
Avg High School GPA - 3.81
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High High
ACT Range 32/33 30/34
SAT Range 1420/1520 1340/1500
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Bates Macalester College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Bates Macalester College
Graduation Rate 92% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,700 $54,100
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,450 $22,670
Median Loan Payment $149 $234

Diversity

Bates Macalester College
% Men 47% 42%
% Women 53% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 66%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 8% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 7% 14%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Bates Macalester College
% In-State 9% 18%
% Out-of-State 81% 69%

Campus

Bates Macalester College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Macalester College is larger than than Bates based on total student enrollment (2,175 students vs. 1,790 students)

Bates vs. Macalester College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or Macalester College?

  • Macalester College is 2% more expensive to attend than Bates for in-state tuition ($62,270.00 vs. $61,066.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2% higher at Macalester College than Bates College ($62,270.00 vs. $61,066.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bates College than Macalester College ($27,491 vs. $36,095)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 23% lower than costs at Bates College ($14,000 vs. $17,224)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Macalester College than Bates College (89% vs. 36%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bates College students is 27.7% larger than aid received Macalester College ($51,414 vs. $40,262)

Bates vs. Macalester College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bates or Macalester College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Macalester College or Bates .

  • Macalester College has a higher acceptance rate (28.4%) than Bates (13.7%)

Bates vs. Macalester College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bates or Macalester College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Macalester College and Bates.

  • The graduation rate at Bates is higher than Macalester College (92% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Bates College earn on average $21,600 more per year than Macalester College graduates after ten years. ($75,700 vs. $54,100)
  • Bates College students graduate with a $8,220 lower median federal student loan debt than Macalester College graduates. ($14,450 vs. $22,670)
  • Bates graduates are paying $85 less per month on federal student loans than Macalester College graduates. ($149 vs. $234)
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Macalester College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 89%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/