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Saint Paul, MN · Northfield, MN
| Macalester College | St Olaf College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $32,149/yr | $23,874/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $13,772/yr | $10,404/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $23,000 | $26,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $11,982/yr | $11,342/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,098/yr | $12,584/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $20,527/yr | $20,367/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $44,880/yr | $33,166/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $244/mo | $276/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $15,760/yr | $13,630/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | No data reported | $13,630/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | No data reported | $1,000/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,270/yr | $900/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $82,991/yr | $71,843/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $68,104/yr | $59,760/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $68,104/yr | $59,760/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 17% | 21% |
| Students taking federal loans | 36% | 42% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 29% | 48% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1350–1510 | 1300–1470 |
| SAT average | 1440 | 1380 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 30–34 | 28–32 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 30–35 · Math 27–32 | English 28–35 · Math 25–30 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 8,099 | 5,956 |
| Students accepted | 2,285 | 3,106 |
| Students who enrolled | 518 | 825 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 23% | 27% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 30% | 12% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 28% | 36% |
| High-school GPA | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 87% | 84% |
| Freshmen who come back | 92% | 92% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $63,878/yr | $65,543/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $41,814–$87,495 | $46,256–$88,706 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 88% | 85% |
| White students graduating | 87% | 84% |
| Black students graduating | 89% | 86% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 87% | 80% |
| Asian students graduating | 91% | 84% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $46,244/yr | $48,373/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 77% | 82% |
| Graduate on time | 74% | 77% |
| Pell students who graduate | 88% | 78% |
| First-gen students who finish | No data reported | 86% |
| Students who transfer out | 8.2% | 11% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $57,106/yr | $56,797/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Social Sciences 21% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 12% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 12% | Social Sciences 19% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10% · Physical Sciences 9% |
| Most popular program | Social Sciences — 21% of degrees | Social Sciences — 19% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 12% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 12% of degrees | Physical Sciences — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Physical Sciences — 9% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Computer and Information Sciences, General — $81,964/yr | Computer Science — $82,278/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 32% | 30% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,131 | 3,093 |
| Students per professor | 10 : 1 | 11 : 1 |
| Average professor pay | $11,951/mo | $9,218/mo |
| Full-time professors | 84% | 76% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $88,992 | $90,436 |
| Setting | City (large) | Town (distant) |
| Location | Saint Paul, MN | Northfield, MN |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1874 | 1874 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 15% | 11% |
| Men | 43% | 42% |
| Women | 57% | 58% |
| White students | 50% | 67% |
| Black students | 6.2% | 3.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 11% | 9.7% |
| Asian students | 7.9% | 4.9% |
| Two or more races | 8.8% | 4.6% |
| Other / not reported | 1.3% | 0.5% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 13% | 13% |
| Part-time students | 1.5% | 0.9% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $25,033/yr | $19,698/yr |
| Endowment | $881.7M | $803.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,304 | 2,987 |
| Required to live on campus | Yes — for first-year students | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,894/yr | $6,280/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,088/yr | $6,800/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | 21 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Four-one-four plan |
| Religious affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Evangelical Lutheran Church |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | No | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | No | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 17 | 26 |
| Student athletes | 420 | 584 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $6.5M | $5.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $6.5M | $5.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $88,893 | $59,440 |
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.