Macalester College vs. Lawrence

Should I go to Macalester College or Lawrence University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Macalester College or Lawrence 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 Grinnell Oberlin Kenyon St Olaf Oxy Minnesota Reed Case Western Beloit College Whitman College Vassar
Macalester College vs. Lawrence University comparison
Macalester College Lawrence University College 3 College 4
Macalester College Lawrence University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Macalester College Lawrence
Location Saint Paul, MN Appleton, WI
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 2,175 1,426
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #97 #207
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website macalester.edu lawrence.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Macalester College Lawrence
Tuition (In State) $62,270 $53,667
Tuition (Out of State) $62,270 $53,667
Room & Board $14,000 $11,520
Avg Net Price $36,095 $26,368
Avg Grant Aid $40,262 $40,089
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 100%

Admission

Macalester College Lawrence
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,434 2,943
Admitted 2,397 2,127
Acceptance Rate 28.4% 72.3%
Enrolled % 23% 17.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.52
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 30/34 27/32
SAT Range 1340/1500 1210/1460
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 15, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Macalester College Lawrence
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

Macalester College Lawrence
Graduation Rate 87% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,100 $45,600
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,670 $27,350
Median Loan Payment $234 $282

Diversity

Macalester College Lawrence
% Men 42% 46%
% Women 58% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 70%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 14% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Macalester College Lawrence
% In-State 18% 22%
% Out-of-State 69% 68%

Campus

Macalester College Lawrence
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
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 Lawrence based on total student enrollment (2,175 students vs. 1,426 students)

Macalester College vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Macalester College or Lawrence?

  • Macalester College is 16% more expensive to attend than Lawrence for in-state tuition ($62,270.00 vs. $53,667.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16% higher at Macalester College than Lawrence University ($62,270.00 vs. $53,667.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lawrence University than Macalester College ($26,368 vs. $36,095)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 21.5% lower than costs at Macalester College ($11,520 vs. $14,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lawrence University than Macalester College (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Macalester College students is 0.4% larger than aid received Lawrence University ($40,262 vs. $40,089)

Macalester College vs. Lawrence Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Macalester College students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Lawrence (3.52)
  • Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (72.3%) than Macalester College (28.4%)

Macalester College vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Macalester College or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence and Macalester College.

  • The graduation rate at Macalester College is higher than Lawrence University (87% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Macalester College earn on average $8,500 more per year than Lawrence graduates after ten years. ($54,100 vs. $45,600)
  • Macalester College students graduate with a $4,680 lower median federal student loan debt than Lawrence graduates. ($22,670 vs. $27,350)
  • Macalester College graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans than Lawrence graduates. ($234 vs. $282)
  • More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 76%)

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