Saint Paul, Minnesota · ★ — / 5 Overall

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Private not-for-profit · 4-year · Bachelor's
Macalester College ( mə-KAL-iss-tər) is a private liberal arts college in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1874, Macalester is exclusively an undergraduate institution with an enrollment of 2,068 students in the fall of 2025. The college has Scottish and Presbyterian roots and emphasizes internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society. As of 2026, the college offers 38 majors, 40 minors, and 11 concentrations. Students also have the option to design their own major. Macalester's sports teams compete in the NCAA Division III-level Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The college's 60-acre main campus is bordered by Summit Avenue to the north, St. Clair Avenue to the south, and Snelling Avenue to the east. The 300-acre Ordway Field Station, a nature reserve and research station, is on the outskirts of the Twin Cities, along the Mississippi River.
Best Student Support
Ranked #1 in Best Student Support (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
Liberal Arts Colleges
Ranked #4 in Liberal Arts Colleges (2025). Source: Washington Monthly ↗
Green Colleges
Ranked #7 in Green Colleges (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
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1600 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55105-1899
Visit University SiteLGBTQ-Friendly
Ranked #7 in LGBTQ-Friendly (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
Best College Newspaper
Ranked #13 in Best College Newspaper (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
Town-Gown Relations
Ranked #15 in Town-Gown Relations (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
Professors Get High Marks
Ranked #17 in Professors Get High Marks (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
Great Financial Aid
Ranked #18 in Great Financial Aid (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
Value rank
Ranked #20 on Washington Monthly Best Bang for the Buck (2025). Source: WM Best Value ↗
College City Gets High Marks
Ranked #24 in College City Gets High Marks (2027). Source: Princeton Review ↗
National Liberal Arts Colleges
Ranked #28 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (2026). Source: US News ↗
National rank
Ranked #207 in Forbes Top Colleges (2026). Source: Forbes ↗
25th–75th percentile
SAT total: 1350–1510
SAT ERW: 680–750
SAT math: 670–760
ACT composite: 30–33
Total: 2,142
Undergrad: 2,142
Undergrad full-time: 2,110
Part-time: 32
In-state
Tuition: $64,908
Total cost on campus: $82,991
Out-of-state
Tuition: $64,908
Total cost on campus: $82,991
Room & board: $15,477
Books & supplies: $926
Receive aid: 90%
Avg grant aid: $40,329
Pell grant recipients: 15%
Rent: $744 / mo
Average city asking rent, as a roommate share. Zillow Observed Rent Index.
Coffee: $5.25
State average cafe price. Numbeo, 2024.
Gas: $4.33 / gal
State average price. AAA.
Average meal: $11.25
Published board plan, per meal. IPEDS.