Macalester College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Macalester College is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 32%. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Macalester has an impressive 10-to-1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 17. For it's strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, Macalester was awarded a chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

Considering applying to Macalester College? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Macalester College had an acceptance rate of 32%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 32 students were admitted, making Macalester's admissions process competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Macalester College requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 57% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Macalester's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Macalester scored between 660 and 740, while 25% scored below 660 and 25% scored above 740. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 660 and 770, while 25% scored below 660 and 25% scored above 770. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1510 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Macalester.

Requirements

Macalester does not require the SAT writing section. While not required, the admissions office will consider SAT Subject test scores if submitted. Note that Macalester participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Macalester requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 50% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Macalester's admitted students fall within the top 9% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Macalester received a composite ACT score between 29 and 33, while 25% scored above 33 and 25% scored below 29.

Requirements

Macalester College does not require the ACT writing section. Unlike many schools, Macalester superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

Macalester College does not provide data about admitted students' high school GPAs.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Macalester College. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Macalester College has a competitive admissions pool with a low acceptance rate and high average SAT/ACT scores. However, Macalester has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay, supplemental essay, and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Finally, you can participate in an optional interview to further strengthen your application. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their test scores are outside Macalester's average range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. Most admitted students had high school averages in the "A" range, combined SAT scores of 1300 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 28 or better.

If You Like Macalester College, You May Also Like These Schools

• Amherst
• Bowdoin
• Carleton
• Davidson
• Grinnell
• Haverford
• Middlebury
• Pomona
• Vassar
• Washington and Lee
• Wellesley
• Wesleyan
• Williams
• Swarthmore

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Macalester College Undergraduate Admissions Office.