Founded in 1874, Macalester College has had an intense focus on educating students in an international tradition. It inspires ambitious, committed and talented young people who have the potential to change the world and prepares them to do just that.

Students come to campus to learn, engage, explore, invent, have fun, make friends, devise, design, discover, speak out, and gain the experience, skills and knowledge needed to fulfill their dreams and their greatest ambitions.

Our Students

• Student body: 1987 from 48 U.S. states and 94 countries.
• 18% of students are citizens of another country
• 20% of U.S. student body are students of color
• SAT median scores
  670 in mathematics
  700 in critical reading
• ACT Composite Median 31
• Two-thirds of the current first year class ranked in the top 10% of their high school class.
• 28% on average earn double majors
• 60% study abroad
• 63% pursue advanced degrees within five years
• 50% volunteer each semester — 94% are active volunteers in the Twin Cities urban community while at Macalester

Our Faculty

• 165 full-time faculty members
• 18% international or U.S. faculty of color
• 70 nationally competitive grants received in the last 5 years
• Percent of full-time faculty with doctorate or highest degree in their field: 95
• Federal and foundation grants received in past year: $2.5 million
• Books published in past year: 16

Our Academics

• 31 academic departments offer 36 majors
• Macalester ranks 18th among U.S. liberal arts colleges in the number of doctoral degrees in all fields awarded to its graduates between 1996 and 2005.
• Academic majors in natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and fine arts: 36
• Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
• Average class size: 17.5
• Courses offered: more than 800
• Most popular majors among 2010 graduates:
  • Economics 56
  • Political Science 53
  • Biology 42
  • Psychology 39
  • International Studies 36
• In the past 10 years, Macalester students have received:
  • 1 Truman Scholarship
  • 2 Mellon Fellowships
  • 4 Goldwater Scholarships
  • 3 Goldman Sachs Global Leaders Scholarships
  • 4 Rhodes Scholarships
  • 13 Watson Fellowships
  • 23 National Science Foundation Fellowships
  • 30 Fulbright-Hays awards

Financial Aid

• Macalester meets the full financial need of admitted students — 1 of only 70 colleges nationally that does so
• Two-thirds of students on average receive financial aid
• Average first-year award: $33,991 for U.S. students.