Colorado College vs. Macalester College

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO with Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Macalester College is larger than Colorado College based on total student enrollment (2,138 students vs. 2,056 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Colorado College is located in Colorado Springs, CO (Large City setting); Macalester College is in Saint Paul, MN (Large City setting).
• Colorado College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Macalester College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Colorado College 9:1; Macalester College 10:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 1.6% lower than at Colorado College ($15,760 vs. $16,020).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Colorado College than at Macalester College (about $2,630 more per year; $70,734 vs. $68,104).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Macalester College than at Colorado College (87% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado College students is 18.9% larger than aid received by Macalester College students ($50,834 vs. $42,766).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Macalester College than at Colorado College (32 vs. 31, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Colorado College and Macalester College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Colorado College Jan 15, 2027; Macalester College Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Colorado College average a 3.98 high school GPA, 0.17 higher than at Macalester College (3.81).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.3% at Colorado College vs. 21.9% at Macalester College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Colorado College graduates have a $2,170 lower median loan debt than Macalester College graduates ($20,500 vs. $22,670).
• Among borrowers, Colorado College graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Macalester College graduates ($211 vs. $234).
• More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado College students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 88%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.