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Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota · Private · 2,131 undergrads

Macalester College admits 28% of applicants (fall 2025, Common Data Set 2025-26), is test-optional for fall 2027, and regular decision is due Jan 15, 2027.

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Can I get into Macalester College?

28% of applicants get in

Competitive: your grades and the classes you took matter most. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent scores had 1350–1480 on the SAT.

Add your SAT to see where you sit

Likely: even the low end of our estimate is 60% or more, and the college admits at least 25% of applicants. Target: our estimate is 30% or more. Reach: our estimate is under 30%, or the college admits under 15%. Long shot: our estimate is under 12%, or the college admits under 12%. Estimates use the college's admit rate and score range plus your grades and scores. They are not a promise.

8,819 applied, 2,481 admitted, fall 2025 (Common Data Set).

What does Macalester College cost?

$27,851 a year

What students who got federal aid paid on average after grants, 2024-25. The sticker price, with housing and food, is $86,134.

Tap your family income:

Average paid after grants by family income
under $30,000$15,715
$30,000–$48,000$4,569
$48,000–$75,000$15,825
$75,000–$110,000$28,539
over $110,000$43,770

Own a business or have divorced parents? Run Macalester College's own calculator.

Net price 2024-25, College Scorecard.

When is Macalester College due?

53 days left

Closed
Early decisionBinding
Was due Nov 1, 2026
Closed
Early action
Was due Nov 1, 2026
53days
Early decision IIBinding
Due Friday, Jan 1, 2027
67days
Regular decision
Due Friday, Jan 15, 2027
Add to calendar Every Macalester College deadline

Checked on macalester.edu Nov 5, 2026. See the source

Does Macalester College need the SAT or ACT?Optional

No.

Test-optional for fall 2027. 29% of enrolled first-years sent the SAT. Send your SAT if it's 1420 or higher, the middle of what enrolled first-years scored.

Which colleges require scores

Checked on macalester.edu Nov 2, 2026. See the source

What it's like

2,131
undergrads. Small, so classes are small and you'll know a lot of faces.
City
Campus setting in Saint Paul, MN.
92%
of first-years come back for year two.
82%
finish in four years. 90% within six.
$70k
median pay 10 years after starting.
$21.5k
median federal debt at graduation.

Lists Macalester College is on

Test-optional collegesColleges due Jan 1Colleges due Jan 15Early decision II collegesDeadlines after Jan 1Most selective in MinnesotaColleges for a 1400 SATColleges for a 1450 SATColleges for a 32 ACTColleges with no application fee

Questions people ask

Is Macalester College test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Macalester College is test-optional for students entering in fall 2027, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores. Checked on macalester.edu on Nov 2, 2026.
What is Macalester College's acceptance rate?
28% for fall 2025: 2,481 of 8,819 applicants were admitted (Common Data Set).
What SAT score do you need for Macalester College?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent SAT scores had 1350 to 1480 (Common Data Set, fall 2025). A quarter scored higher and a quarter lower, so a score in that range is typical, not a cutoff.
How much does Macalester College cost for a family earning $60,000?
Families earning $48,000–$75,000 paid an average of $15,825 a year after grants in 2024-25 (students who got federal aid). The sticker price is $86,134.
When is the Macalester College application deadline for fall 2027?
Early decision closed Nov 1, 2026. Early action closed Nov 1, 2026. Early decision II is due Jan 1, 2027. Regular decision is due Jan 15, 2027. Checked on macalester.edu on Nov 5, 2026.
Does Macalester College have early decision?
Yes. 201 of 479 early decision applicants were admitted (42%) in fall 2025. Early decision is binding: if you're admitted, you go.