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 Lawrence University of St Thomas Oxy Minnesota Reed Case Western Whitman College Denison| Macalester College | St Olaf College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Macalester College | St Olaf | ||
| Location | Saint Paul, MN | Northfield, MN | ||
| Setting | Large City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 2,175 | 3,046 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #97 | #156 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | macalester.edu | stolaf.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Macalester College | St Olaf | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,270 | $54,650 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,270 | $54,650 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,000 | $12,450 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $36,095 | $26,171 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $40,262 | $40,399 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 89% | 99% |
Admission |
Macalester College | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,434 | 5,524 | ||
| Admitted | 2,397 | 3,116 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 28.4% | 56.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23% | 27.9% | ||
| 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 | 28/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1340/1500 | 1300/1480 | ||
| 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 | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Macalester College | St Olaf | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,100 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 89% | 91% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,670 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $234 | $279 |
Diversity |
Macalester College | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 66% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 14% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Macalester College | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 18% | 47% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 43% | ||
Campus |
Macalester College | St Olaf | ||
| 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
- St Olaf College is larger than than Macalester College based on total student enrollment (3,046 students vs. 2,175 students)
Macalester College vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Macalester College or St Olaf?
- Macalester College is 13.9% more expensive to attend than St Olaf for in-state tuition ($62,270.00 vs. $54,650.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.9% higher at Macalester College than St Olaf College ($62,270.00 vs. $54,650.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at St Olaf College than Macalester College ($26,171 vs. $36,095)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 12.4% lower than costs at Macalester College ($12,450 vs. $14,000)
- More students receive financial grant aid at St Olaf College than Macalester College (99% vs. 89%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 0.3% larger than aid received Macalester College ($40,399 vs. $40,262)
Macalester College vs. St Olaf Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Macalester College or St Olaf? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St Olaf or Macalester College .
- The average SAT score at Macalester College (1358) is 76 points higher than at St Olaf (1282)
- Incoming Macalester College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at St Olaf (29)
- Accepted freshman Macalester College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at St Olaf (3.68)
- St Olaf has a higher acceptance rate (56.4%) than Macalester College (28.4%)
Macalester College vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Macalester College or St Olaf? 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 St Olaf and Macalester College.
- The graduation rate at Macalester College is higher than St Olaf College (87% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from Macalester College earn on average $400 more per year than St Olaf graduates after ten years. ($54,100 vs. $53,700)
- Macalester College students graduate with a $4,330 lower median federal student loan debt than St Olaf graduates. ($22,670 vs. $27,000)
- Macalester College graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than St Olaf graduates. ($234 vs. $279)
- More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Macalester College students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 89%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/