Carleton College vs. Macalester College

Should I go to Carleton College or Macalester College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Carleton College or Macalester College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Carleton College vs. Macalester College comparison
Carleton College Macalester College College 3 College 4
Carleton College Macalester College
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Overview

Carleton College Macalester College
Location Northfield, MN Saint Paul, MN
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 2,059 2,175
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #39 #97
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website carleton.edu macalester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Carleton College Macalester College
Tuition (In State) $62,244 $62,270
Tuition (Out of State) $62,244 $62,270
Room & Board $15,990 $14,000
Avg Net Price $31,494 $36,095
Avg Grant Aid $46,821 $40,262
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 89%

Admission

Carleton College Macalester College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,583 8,434
Admitted 1,427 2,397
Acceptance Rate 16.6% 28.4%
Enrolled % 37.3% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.9 3.81
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High High
ACT Range 32/35 30/34
SAT Range 1430/1550 1340/1500
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Carleton College Macalester College
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Carleton College Macalester College
Graduation Rate 93% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,600 $54,100
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $22,670
Median Loan Payment $201 $234

Diversity

Carleton College Macalester College
% Men 50% 42%
% Women 50% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 66%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 10% 14%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Carleton College Macalester College
% In-State 17% 18%
% Out-of-State 73% 69%

Campus

Carleton College Macalester College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Macalester College is larger than than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (2,175 students vs. 2,059 students)

Carleton College vs. Macalester College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carleton College or Macalester College?

  • Macalester College is 0% more expensive to attend than Carleton College for in-state tuition ($62,270.00 vs. $62,244.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0% higher at Macalester College than Carleton College ($62,270.00 vs. $62,244.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carleton College than Macalester College ($31,494 vs. $36,095)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 14.2% lower than costs at Carleton College ($14,000 vs. $15,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Macalester College than Carleton College (89% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 16.3% larger than aid received Macalester College ($46,821 vs. $40,262)

Carleton College vs. Macalester College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carleton College or Macalester College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Macalester College or Carleton College .

  • The average SAT score at Carleton College (1400) is 42 points higher than at Macalester College (1358)
  • Incoming Carleton College students have at the same average ACT score (31) as students at Macalester College (31)
  • Accepted freshman Carleton College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Macalester College (3.81)
  • Macalester College has a higher acceptance rate (28.4%) than Carleton College (16.6%)

Carleton College vs. Macalester College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Carleton College or Macalester College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Macalester College and Carleton College.

  • The graduation rate at Carleton College is higher than Macalester College (93% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Carleton College earn on average $11,500 more per year than Macalester College graduates after ten years. ($65,600 vs. $54,100)
  • Carleton College students graduate with a $3,170 lower median federal student loan debt than Macalester College graduates. ($19,500 vs. $22,670)
  • Carleton College graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Macalester College graduates. ($201 vs. $234)
  • More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Macalester College students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/