Macalester College vs. SMU

Should I go to Macalester College or Southern Methodist University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Macalester College or SMU 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.

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Macalester College vs. Southern Methodist University comparison
Macalester College Southern Methodist University College 3 College 4
Macalester College Southern Methodist University
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Overview

Macalester College SMU
Location Saint Paul, MN Dallas, TX
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,175 12,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #97 #67
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website macalester.edu smu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Macalester College SMU
Tuition (In State) $62,270 $55,012
Tuition (Out of State) $62,270 $55,012
Room & Board $14,000 $17,750
Avg Net Price $36,095 $45,094
Avg Grant Aid $40,262 $35,344
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 73%

Admission

Macalester College SMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,434 16,150
Admitted 2,397 8,439
Acceptance Rate 28.4% 52.3%
Enrolled % 23% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 30/34 31/34
SAT Range 1340/1500 1370/1510
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 SMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Macalester College SMU
Graduation Rate 87% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,100 $73,000
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,670 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $234 $222

Diversity

Macalester College SMU
% Men 42% 50%
% Women 58% 50%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 65%
% Black 2% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 14% 8%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Macalester College SMU
% In-State 18% 38%
% Out-of-State 69% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Methodist University is larger than than Macalester College based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 2,175 students)

Macalester College vs. SMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Macalester College or SMU?

  • Macalester College is 13.2% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($62,270.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.2% higher at Macalester College than Southern Methodist University ($62,270.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Macalester College than SMU ($36,095 vs. $45,094)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 26.8% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($14,000 vs. $17,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Macalester College than Southern Methodist University (89% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Macalester College students is 13.9% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($40,262 vs. $35,344)

Macalester College vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Macalester College (1358) is 28 points higher than at SMU (1330)
  • Incoming Macalester College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at SMU (30)
  • Accepted freshman Macalester College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at SMU (3.68)
  • SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Macalester College (28.4%)

Macalester College vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Macalester College is higher than Southern Methodist University (87% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $18,900 more per year than Macalester College graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $54,100)
  • Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $1,170 lower median federal student loan debt than Macalester College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,670)
  • SMU graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Macalester College graduates. ($222 vs. $234)
  • More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU 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/