Financial Aid Office

2025-2026 FAFSA

Starting October 1, some students will be able to complete the FAFSA if they are working with an organization or applying to a college that has chosen to participate in the testing phase of the 2025-2026 FAFSA. Macalester is not participating in this testing phase.

The 2025-2026 FAFSA will be available to the public by December, 2024. Macalester will load students’ FAFSA information into our system starting in December.

We ask that current students complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA by May 15, 2025. For prospective students, we will use the CSS Profile to determine eligibility for financial aid from all sources, although prospective students will still need to complete the FAFSA at a later date to finalize eligibility for federal and Minnesota financial aid. More info is available on our Apply for Aid page.

Prospective Students

Please review the financial aid application requirements and filing dates on our Apply for Aid page. We ask U.S. students to complete the CSS Profile and the FAFSA and provide tax documents. International students can complete the CSS Profile or the International Student Application for Financial Assistance. Students who complete their financial aid application by the specified filing date for their admission round will receive financial aid results shortly after notices of admission.

We encourage students to estimate their aid eligibility by using MyinTuition or our Net Price Calculator. Both of these estimating tools offer families an idea of what it might cost to attend Macalester.

Please contact us with questions about any aspect of the financial aid process.

Communication From Our Office

In an effort to conserve resources, we will limit the number of paper financial aid eligibility notifications sent from our office. Students will receive initial eligibility notifications in the mail and electronically. Subsequent notifications will be electronic only. Paper notifications are sent to the permanent address on file with the Registrar.

If you would prefer to receive paper notifications (sent to your SPO during the academic year), please send an email to [email protected].

2022-2023 Key Facts and Figures

63% of students receive need-based financial aid

Average need-based financial aid package: $57,801

The average financial aid package includes the following:

Grants/scholarships: 86%
Loans: 9%
Student Employment: 5%

Merit Scholarship Opportunities

More than half of Macalester students are recipients of a merit-based scholarship (many of those students also receive need-based financial aid). All applicants for admission are considered for Macalester’s merit scholarships; no additional scholarship application is required. Merit scholarship awards range from $8,000 to $100,000 over four years. More information about Macalester’s Merit Scholarships.