{"id":7111,"date":"2021-03-15T21:04:35","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T21:04:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/admissions\/?page_id=7111"},"modified":"2026-09-30T23:45:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T23:45:47","slug":"a-top-liberal-arts-college","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/admissions\/a-top-liberal-arts-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Rankings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Macalester is a top-ranked liberal arts college in the heart of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Students often choose Mac for its vibrant location and rigorous academic programs.<\/p>\n \t \t

We understand that rankings can be an important part of your college search, so here are some of the things about Macalester that renowned publications have chosen to highlight.<\/p>\n \t <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

#25 Top Private National Liberal Arts College<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n #25 in Top Private National Liberal Arts Colleges<\/strong>
#9 in Undergraduate Teaching
#12 in Study Abroad<\/strong>
#15 in Most Innovative<\/strong>
Top College Rankings | US News<\/em>
US News & World Report has again ranked Macalester College among the top liberal arts colleges in the nation out of more than 200 schools.\n
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\n \"Princeton\n <\/a> <\/div>\n
\n #11 Best Schools for Making an Impact (Private Schools) <\/strong>
#1 Best Student Support and Counseling Services
#3 Most Politically Active Students<\/strong>
#7 Green Matters:Everyone Cares about Conservation<\/strong>
#7 LGBTQ-Friendly<\/strong>
#13 Best College Newspaper (The Mac Weekly<\/a>) <\/strong>
The Best 392 Schools | The Princeton Review<\/em>
“Students looking for the best of both worlds\u2014a small college in a metropolitan location\u2014will be keen on Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.”\n
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\n \"Washington\n <\/a> <\/div>\n
\n #2 Best College for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars among Midwest four-year colleges<\/strong>
Washington Monthly
<\/em>Washington Monthly\u2019s rankings prioritize access, affordability, academic and financial outcomes, and promotion of public service.\n
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\n \"Niche.com\n <\/a> <\/div>\n
\n A+ Grade in Academics<\/strong>
#2 Most Diverse College in Minnesota
#17 Best Colleges with No Application Fee
#30 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America
#1 Best Neighborhoods to Live in St. Paul (Macalester-Groveland)<\/strong>
Niche.com<\/em>\n
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Introduce Yourself<\/h3>\n

We\u2019d love to learn more about you\u2014and tell you a little more about us. So if you\u2019re considering Macalester, let us know. We\u2019ll send you information about life at Mac, and keep you up to date on upcoming admissions visits and important deadlines.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Money\n <\/a> <\/div>\n
\n ONE OF AMERICA’S BEST COLLEGES<\/strong>
Money<\/em>
Evaluated within a pool of 2,400 schools, Money ranked Macalester four stars as evaluated by its quality of education, affordability, and outcomes.\n
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\n #5 Best Hidden Ivies\u00a0<\/strong>
The Top 10 Hidden Ivies | The College Gazette<\/em>
Macalester College is a “…liberal arts college located not in a small town but a large Midwestern metropolitan area. This gives its students ample opportunities to take part in community service projects and internships.”\n
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\n Dream School<\/strong>
Author and speaker Jeff Selingo lists Macalester as a Dream School in this guidebook designed to help students and families find schools that will be a good fit. The book highlights 75 accessible and affordable colleges that will satisfy priorities around strong job prospects after graduation, hands-on learning experiences, and a sense of belonging.\u202f \n
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\n \"AASHE\n <\/a> <\/div>\n
\n Gold Rating and #2 Sustainable Campus Index<\/strong>
Macalester College has been recognized again as a top performer in the 2026 Sustainable Campus Index<\/a>, receiving a Gold rating and the #2 ranking among Baccalaureate Institutions from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The college earned its top performer status by incorporating sustainability into the curriculum and faculty research, working to engage the campus community outside of the classroom, and adapting operations and policies to promote waste reduction, reduce carbon emissions, and facilitate the production of ecosystem services.\n
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\n Fiske Guide to Colleges<\/em><\/strong>
“A small school that punches above its weight, Macalester offers an internationalist and multiculturalist view of the world. Mac has the progressive capital city of St. Paul and a distinctive Scottish flavor.”\n
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Other rankings in the news<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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