More selective than 94% of Minnesota colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
30% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 28% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Macalester College over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
We don't have Macalester College's Common Data Set yet, the college's own report of what it weighs in admissions, early decision and waitlist numbers. Work at Macalester College or have its file? Send it to us.
Macalester College SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Macalester College is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 680 | 750 |
| SAT math | 670 | 760 |
| ACT composite | 30 | 34 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1350 | 1510 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Macalester College admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 29% | 680–750 | 670–760 | 30–34 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 28% | 680–750 | 670–760 | 30–33 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Macalester College compared with other Minnesota colleges?
Macalester College has the 3rd-lowest acceptance rate of 36 Minnesota colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carleton College | 20% | 90% | $25,407 |
| 2 | Crown College | 23% | 45% | $26,672 |
| 3 | Macalester College | 29% | 87% | $32,149 |
| 4 | Bethany Lutheran College | 39% | 55% | $20,148 |
| 5 | Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science | 39% | — | — |
| 6 | St Olaf College | 48% | 84% | $23,874 |
| 7 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | 48% | 51% | $29,926 |
| 8 | Bemidji State University | 56% | 48% | $15,261 |
| 9 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 59% | 57% | $17,997 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Minnesota colleges →
Who enrolls at Macalester College
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Macalester College admissions questions
What is the Macalester College acceptance rate?
Macalester College accepts 29% of applicants, about 1 in 4. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 2,285 of 8,099 applicants were admitted.
Does Macalester College require the SAT or ACT?
Macalester College considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 30% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 28% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Macalester College?
The middle 50% of Macalester College enrolled first-year students scored 1350–1510 on the SAT and 30–34 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Macalester College?
23% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (518 of 2,285).
Is Macalester College getting harder to get into?
Macalester College accepted 29% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 28% for Fall 2023.
Is Macalester College the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Macalester College with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Macalester College overview