Planning for College Costs
Macalester is one of a small number of colleges that is committed to providing a financial aid package equal to one-hundred percent of demonstrated financial need for every admitted student and offers a robust program of merit-based scholarships.
Quick College Cost Estimator
MyinTuition is a tool that can help you anticipate your college costs and estimate your eligibility for need-based financial aid. An education at Macalester may be more affordable than you think.
College Tuition & Financial Aid
Comprehensive fees for attending Macalester are $87,338 for the 2025-2026 academic year. This includes tuition, housing, a meal plan, and activity fees. Find details here.
Average Financial Aid Package
Around three out of five of Macalester students receive need-based financial aid. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the average need-based financial aid package totaled $65,189.
Merit Scholarship Awards
Around half of Macalester students are recipients of a merit-based scholarship (and many of those students also receive need-based financial aid). In the 2024-2025 academic year, the average merit scholarship totaled $19,261.
All applicants for admission to Macalester are considered for merit-based scholarships.
Find out more
At Macalester, we combine a close-knit, welcoming community with the benefits of being in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. Macalester students come from every state and 95 countries for an academic program ranked among the top in the nation where ideas and intellectual curiosity matter.
Discover more about Macalester
Explore our video viewbook and discover more about our values, academics, and location in the Twin Cities. See the videos, photos, and details that give you an inside view into our Macalester community.