Macalester College vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Macalester College and University of Wisconsin Madison? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Macalester College
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Macalester College Saint Paul, MN
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Macalester College Large City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Macalester College 2,138
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Macalester College Private 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Macalester College #97
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Macalester College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Macalester College Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Macalester College
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Macalester College $68,104
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Macalester College $68,104
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Macalester College $15,760
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Macalester College $40,225
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Macalester College $42,766
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Macalester College 87%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Macalester College 8,968
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Macalester College 2,558
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Macalester College 28.5%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Macalester College 21.9%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Macalester College 1430
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Macalester College 32
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Macalester College 3.81
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Macalester College A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Macalester College Exceptional
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Macalester College High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Macalester College 30/34
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Macalester College 1350/1510
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Macalester College Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Macalester College Jan 15, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Macalester College 10:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Macalester College
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (10%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Macalester College 87%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Macalester College $54,100
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Macalester College 89%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Macalester College $22,670
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Macalester College $234
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Macalester College 43%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Macalester College 57%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Macalester College Medium
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Macalester College No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Macalester College 66%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Macalester College 7%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Macalester College 2%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Macalester College 6%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Macalester College 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Macalester College 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Macalester College 5%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Macalester College 14%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Macalester College 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Macalester College 14%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Macalester College 63%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Macalester College Yes
  • Wisconsin Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Macalester College Yes
  • Wisconsin No
  • Meal Plan
  • Macalester College Yes
  • Wisconsin Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Macalester College No
  • Wisconsin No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Macalester College No
  • Wisconsin Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than Macalester College based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 2,138 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Macalester College is located in Saint Paul, MN (Large City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Macalester College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Macalester College 10:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Macalester College vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Macalester College or Wisconsin? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Macalester College ($14,235 vs. $40,225).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 10.4% lower than at Macalester College ($14,124 vs. $15,760).
  • Macalester College is 487% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $56,501 more per year; $68,104.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 61.8% higher at Macalester College than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $26,001 more per year; $68,104.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Macalester College than at University of Wisconsin Madison (87% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Macalester College students is 141.1% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students ($42,766 vs. $17,741).

Macalester College vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Macalester College or Wisconsin? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Wisconsin and Macalester College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 20 points higher than at Macalester College (1430).
  • Incoming Macalester College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Wisconsin).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Macalester College 1350/1510; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Macalester College 30/34; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Macalester College - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Macalester College Jan 15, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Macalester College (3.81).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than Macalester College (28.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.9% at Macalester College vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Macalester College vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Macalester College and Wisconsin? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Macalester College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Madison's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than Macalester College graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Madison graduates have a $420 lower median loan debt than Macalester College graduates ($22,250 vs. $22,670).
  • Among borrowers, Wisconsin graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Macalester College graduates ($230 vs. $234).
  • More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wisconsin students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.