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Compare Gustavus Adolphus College vs Macalester College

Saint Peter, MN · Saint Paul, MN

Gustavus Adolphus CollegeMacalester College
Cost
Price after aid (average)$22,900/yr$32,149/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$12,015/yr$13,772/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$26,774$23,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$10,783/yr$11,982/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$13,875/yr$11,098/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$19,015/yr$20,527/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$29,674/yr$44,880/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$284/mo$244/mo
Room & board (on campus)$11,804/yr$15,760/yr
Room & board (off campus)$11,804/yrNo data reported
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$900/yrNo data reported
Other living costs (on campus)$1,180/yr$2,270/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$67,613/yr$82,991/yr
Tuition (in-state)$56,076/yr$68,104/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$56,076/yr$68,104/yr
Students with Pell Grants21%17%
Students taking federal loans54%36%
Getting in
Students who get accepted61%29%
SAT range (middle 50%)No data reported1350–1510
SAT average12901440
ACT range (middle 50%)24–3030–34
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 22–30 · Math 22–29English 30–35 · Math 27–32
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received4,4508,099
Students accepted2,7502,285
Students who enrolled499518
Accepted students who enroll18%23%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores0%30%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores39%28%
High-school GPARequiredOptional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Recommendation lettersOptional (considered if sent)Required
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testOptional (considered if sent)Required
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate77%87%
Freshmen who come back88%92%
Typical earnings 10 years in$65,607/yr$63,878/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$48,888–$92,889$41,814–$87,495
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)75%88%
White students graduating78%87%
Black students graduating71%89%
Hispanic students graduating76%87%
Asian students graduating72%91%
Typical earnings 6 years in$51,546/yr$46,244/yr
Earn more than a HS grad86%77%
Graduate on time64%74%
Pell students who graduate73%88%
First-gen students who finish69%No data reported
Low-income students who finish57%No data reported
Students who transfer out16%8.2%
Typical earnings 8 years in$57,206/yr$57,106/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 13% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% · Psychology 8%Social Sciences 21% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 12% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 12%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 13% of degreesSocial Sciences — 21% of degrees
2nd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 12% of degrees
3rd most popular programPsychology — 8% of degreesMulti/Interdisciplinary Studies — 12% of degrees
4th most popular programParks, Recreation & Fitness — 7% of degreesPsychology — 10% of degrees
5th most popular programSocial Sciences — 7% of degreesPhysical Sciences — 9% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $71,294/yrComputer and Information Sciences, General — $81,964/yr
Degrees in STEM25%32%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment1,8782,131
Students per professor12 : 110 : 1
Graduate students1No data reported
Average professor pay$8,374/mo$11,951/mo
Full-time professors93%84%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$78,420$88,992
SettingTown (fringe)City (large)
LocationSaint Peter, MNSaint Paul, MN
RegionPlainsPlains
Founded18621874
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences FocusBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students5%15%
Men47%43%
Women53%57%
White students79%50%
Black students2.2%6.2%
Hispanic or Latino students6.2%11%
Asian students2.4%7.9%
Two or more races4.3%8.8%
Other / not reported0.9%1.3%
Special typeReligiously affiliatedReligiously affiliated
First-generation students15%13%
Part-time students1.9%1.5%
Students age 25+0.8%0.2%
Spent on teaching per student$18,862/yr$25,033/yr
Endowment$313.2M$881.7M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing2,1251,304
Required to live on campusNoYes — for first-year students
Room charge (campus housing)$6,980/yr$7,894/yr
Meal plan charge$4,310/yr$7,088/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week20 meals/week19 meals/week
Academic calendarFour-one-four planSemester
Religious affiliationEvangelical Lutheran ChurchPresbyterian Church (USA)
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoNo
ROTCYes — ArmyNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoYes
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesYesNo
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesNo
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingNoNo
Student veteran organizationNoNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planYesNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division III with footballNCAA Division III with football
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1917
Student athletes859420
Athletic scholarships$0$0
Athletics budget$6.0M$6.5M
Athletics revenue$6.0M$6.5M
Recruiting spend$80,032$88,893

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.