UIC vs. Macalester College

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Macalester College? 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.

University of Illinois Chicago
Macalester College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Macalester College Saint Paul, MN
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Macalester College Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Macalester College 2,138
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Macalester College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Macalester College #97
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Macalester College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Macalester College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Macalester College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Macalester College $68,104
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Macalester College $68,104
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Macalester College $15,760
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Macalester College $40,225
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Macalester College $42,766
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Macalester College 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Macalester College 8,968
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Macalester College 2,558
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Macalester College 28.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Macalester College 21.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Macalester College 1430
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Macalester College 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Macalester College 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Macalester College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Macalester College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Macalester College High
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Macalester College 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Macalester College 1350/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Macalester College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Macalester College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Macalester College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Macalester College
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (10%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Macalester College 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Macalester College $54,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Macalester College 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Macalester College $22,670
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Macalester College $234

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Macalester College 43%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Macalester College 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Macalester College Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Macalester College No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Macalester College 66%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Macalester College 7%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Macalester College 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Macalester College 6%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Macalester College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Macalester College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Macalester College 5%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Macalester College 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Macalester College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Macalester College 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Macalester College 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than Macalester College based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 2,138 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Macalester College is in Saint Paul, MN (Large City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Macalester College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Macalester College 10:1.

UIC vs. Macalester College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Macalester College? 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 Illinois Chicago than Macalester College ($10,852 vs. $40,225).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 4.5% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($15,760 vs. $16,500).
  • Macalester College is 375% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $53,766 more per year; $68,104.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 127.9% higher at Macalester College than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $38,220 more per year; $68,104.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Macalester College than at University of Illinois Chicago (87% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Macalester College students is 155.2% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($42,766 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. Macalester College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC or Macalester College? 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 Macalester College and UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Macalester College (1430) is 190 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming Macalester College students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Macalester College 1350/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Macalester College 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Macalester College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Macalester College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Macalester College students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Macalester College (28.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 21.9% at Macalester College.

UIC vs. Macalester College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Macalester College? 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 Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Macalester College graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $3,920 lower median loan debt than Macalester College graduates ($18,750 vs. $22,670).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Macalester College graduates ($193 vs. $234).
  • More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 68%)

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.