2025-2026
Accept rate
28.1%
- Applicants
- 8,819
- Admits
- 2,481
- Enrolled
- 534
- Yield
- 21.5%
- ED Apps
- 479
- ED Admits
- 201
Total Applications
8,819
2025-2026
Acceptance Rate
28.1%
2025-2026
Enrolled Students
534
2025-2026
SAT Middle 50%
1350-1480
2025-2026
Macalester College Admissions at a Glance
Macalester College received 8,819 applications for 2025-2026 and admitted 28.1% of applicants; 534 admitted students enrolled (a 21.5% yield). That compares with an acceptance rate of 37.1% in 2016-2017. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1350–1480 on the SAT and 30–33 on the ACT. The total cost of attendance was $87,338, and the average need-based grant was $60,079.
Applications & Acceptance Rate Over Time
ApplicationsAcceptance Rate
Early Decision Applications
ED ApplicationsED Admits
Complete Admissions Data
2024-2025
Accept rate
28.5%
- Applicants
- 8,968
- Admits
- 2,558
- Enrolled
- 560
- Yield
- 21.9%
- ED Apps
- 447
- ED Admits
- 176
2023-2024
Accept rate
28.2%
- Applicants
- 8,099
- Admits
- 2,285
- Enrolled
- 518
- Yield
- 22.7%
- ED Apps
- 380
- ED Admits
- 176
2022-2023
Accept rate
28.4%
- Applicants
- 8,434
- Admits
- 2,397
- Enrolled
- 552
- Yield
- 23.0%
- ED Apps
- 335
- ED Admits
- 177
| Year | Applications | Admits | Enrolled | Accept Rate | Yield Rate | ED Apps | ED Admits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | 8,819 | 2,481 | 534 | 28.1% | 21.5% | 479 | 201 |
| 2024-2025 | 8,968 | 2,558 | 560 | 28.5% | 21.9% | 447 | 176 |
| 2023-2024 | 8,099 | 2,285 | 518 | 28.2% | 22.7% | 380 | 176 |
| 2022-2023 | 8,434 | 2,397 | 552 | 28.4% | 23.0% | 335 | 177 |
| 2021-2022 | 9,046 | 2,828 | 601 | 31.3% | 21.3% | 305 | 148 |
| 2020-2021 | 6,373 | 2,466 | 547 | 38.7% | 22.2% | 296 | 179 |
| 2019-2020 | 6,598 | 2,129 | 502 | 32.3% | 23.6% | 287 | 167 |
| 2018-2019 | 5,985 | 2,468 | 621 | 41.2% | 25.2% | 309 | 161 |
| 2017-2018 | 5,900 | 2,394 | 543 | 40.6% | 22.7% | 272 | 141 |
| 2016-2017 | 5,946 | 2,206 | 506 | 37.1% | 22.9% | 284 | 150 |
SAT Score Trends (Middle 50%)
MedianMiddle 50% Range
25th Percentile
1350
50th Percentile
1420
75th Percentile
1480
Financial Aid Overview
Avg Aid PackageTotal Cost
Students Receiving Aid
60%
Need Fully Met
69%
Cost of Attendance Over Time
$87,338
2025-2026 Total COA
TuitionFeesRoom & Board
Tuition
$70,632
Fees
$230
Room & Board
$16,476
Change Since 2016
+36%
Student Demographics
Enrollment Over Time
UndergraduateGraduate
Demographics Over Time (% of Undergraduates)
WhiteAsianHispanic/LatinoBlack/African AmericanInternationalTwo or More
Undergraduates
2,068
Total Enrollment
2,068
International
16%
Students of Color
52%
Admissions Factors
Relative importance reported in the latest available Common Data Set.
Academic
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Very Important
- Class rank
- Considered
- Academic GPA
- Very Important
- Standardized test scores
- Considered
- Application essay
- Important
- Recommendation(s)
- Important
Nonacademic
- Interview
- Considered
- Extracurricular activities
- Important
- Talent/ability
- Considered
- Character/personal qualities
- Important
- First generation
- Considered
- Alumni/ae relation
- Considered
- Geographical residence
- Considered
- State residency
- Considered
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Not Considered
- Volunteer work
- Considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Level of applicant's interest
- Not Considered
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | ||||
| Rigor of secondary school record | ✓ | |||
| Class rank | ✓ | |||
| Academic GPA | ✓ | |||
| Standardized test scores | ✓ | |||
| Application essay | ✓ | |||
| Recommendation(s) | ✓ | |||
| Nonacademic | ||||
| Interview | ✓ | |||
| Extracurricular activities | ✓ | |||
| Talent/ability | ✓ | |||
| Character/personal qualities | ✓ | |||
| First generation | ✓ | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | ✓ | |||
| Geographical residence | ✓ | |||
| State residency | ✓ | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | ✓ | |||
| Volunteer work | ✓ | |||
| Work experience | ✓ | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | ✓ | |||