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: 1,978 from 50 U.S. states and 90 countries
• 19% of students are citizens of another country
• 31% of U.S. student body are students of color
• SAT Scores:
  Critical Reading Middle 50%: 650-740
  Math Middle 50%: 630-720
• ACT Composite Middle 50%: 28-32
• 70% of Mac students ranked in the top 10% of their high school class
• 60% of students 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

• 170 full-time faculty members
• 17% international or U.S. faculty of color
• Percent of full-time faculty with doctorate or highest degree in their field: 94
• Federal and foundation grants received in past year: $2.5 million
• Books published in past year: 16
• Rank for NSF grants per capita among liberal arts colleges: 1st

Our Academics

• 31 academic departments offer 37 majors and 63 areas of study
• Academic majors in natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and fine arts: 37
• Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
• Average class size: 18
• Courses offered: more than 800
• Most popular majors among 2011 graduates:
  • Economics 57
  • Political Science 46
  • Mathematics 34
  • Psychology 35
  • International Studies 30
• In the past 10 years, Macalester students have received:
  • 2 Truman Scholarships
  • 1 Mellon Fellowship
  • 4 Goldwater Scholarships
  • 3 Goldman Sachs Global Leaders Scholarships
  • 3 Rhodes Scholarships
  • 11 Watson Fellowships
  • 26 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: $36,663 for U.S. students.