Your chances of getting into Macalester College
Admission Rate & Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at Macalester College is 31%. Its admission rate is the 2nd lowest in Minnesota and the 97th lowest the nation.
Admission Selectivity
How hard is it to get into Macalester College and can you get accepted?
Macalester College is a highly competitive school to get into with a lesser chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Last year, 2,828 out of the 9,046 who applied were admitted.
The school has extremely high admission requirements, generally admitting students who can score in the top 9 percent on standardized admission tests. Macalester College typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.81. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. 21% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
Check if you have the grades and scores to get into Macalester College and calculate your admission chance.
Admission Requirements in Brief
To have the best chance of getting into to Macalester College you should:
- Have a high school GPA of 3.81 or better
- Earn A- grades in high school
- Score 1430 on the SAT
- Score 31 on the ACT
- Graduate in the top 10% of your high school class
- Submit letters of recommendation from your teachers
Test Optional
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Macalester College. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 35% of students submitted SAT scores and 39% submitted ACT scores for admission for the 2021/2022 academic year..
Macalester College SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 680 |
| SAT Math 25th | 660 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1340 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 750 |
| SAT Math 75th | 765 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1515 |
| Average SAT Score | 1430
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Macalester College?
Macalester College is a test optional school meaning you are not required to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "considered but not required".
Students who get into Macalester College score in the top 9 percent of all SAT test takers.. The SAT composite score range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1340-1515 and the average score is 1430. Macalester College ranks #2 in the state of Minnesota and #57 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. You should target scoring 1430 or above to be competitive with most other applicants.
View other colleges which accept students in the 1430 SAT score range.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classChance of Acceptance by SAT Score
The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1427, you have around a 31% chance of being admitted. A 1427 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 46% chance of getting in.
Engage with counselors on a personal level to demonstrate your interest in their school and get answers to all of your admissions-related questions.
Sponsored by CollegeVine
Macalester College ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 30 |
| ACT Math 25th | 27 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 29 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 32 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 33 |
| Average ACT Score | 31
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Macalester College?
Macalester College is test optional. Students are not required to submit ACT scores with their application. The policy on ACT scores is "considered but not required".
Macalester College regularly accepts students who score 29 and above on the ACT. These students typically score in the top 9 percent nationally. The ACT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 29-33.
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
Macalester College GPA
GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into Macalester College?
You are required to have exceptionally good grades to get into Macalester College. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Macalester College was 3.81 on the 4.0 scale. This indicates that primarily A- average high school students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #2 in Minnesota for highest average GPA. Even with a competitive GPA, admission to Macalester College will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.
See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.8 GPA range.
*This school has not released high school GPA data for its incoming freshmen. In these cases, CollegeSimply uses an AI algorithm to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of college GPA data. 3.81 is a prediction of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.
High School Class Rank
61% of Macalester College freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 61% |
| Top 25% of class | 87% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 5,306 | 3,725 | 9,046 |
| Accepted | 1,674 | 1,154 | 2,828 |
| Acceptance Rate | 32% | 31% | 31% |
| Enrolled | 331 | 270 | 601 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 20% | 23% | 21% |
Fall 2023 Application Deadline
Applications Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2023 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 15, 2023.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Macalester College is $40.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Macalester College and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Considered but not required |
| High School GPA | Recommended |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Apply To
Students applying to Macalester College often consider these colleges
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=173902 IPEDS survey data for Macalester College.
FAQs
Does Macalester College prefer SAT or ACT?
35% of students submit their SAT scores to Macalester College. 39% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Macalester College?
31% of those who apply are granted admission to Macalester College. Admission competition is high and the college has exceptional admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Macalester College?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1340 and 1515. 35% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Macalester College?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 29 and 33. 39% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.