Colorado College vs. Macalester College

Should I go to Colorado College or Macalester College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Carleton College Grinnell Oberlin Kenyon St Olaf Oxy Minnesota Reed Case Western Whitman College Vassar Lawrence
Colorado College vs. Macalester College comparison
Colorado College Macalester College College 3 College 4
Colorado College Macalester College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Colorado College Macalester College
Location Colorado Springs, CO Saint Paul, MN
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 2,173 2,142
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #72 #104
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website coloradocollege.edu macalester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado College Macalester College
Tuition (In State) $67,458 $64,678
Tuition (Out of State) $67,458 $64,678
Room & Board $15,228 $15,477
Avg Net Price $35,281 $38,571
Avg Grant Aid $47,947 $40,329
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 88%

Admission

Colorado College Macalester College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,532 8,099
Admitted 1,509 2,285
Acceptance Rate 20% 28.2%
Enrolled % 34.3% 22.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.81
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High High
ACT Range 31/34 30/33
SAT Range 1365/1520 1350/1510
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

Colorado College Macalester College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Colorado College Macalester College
Graduation Rate 88% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $54,100
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $22,670
Median Loan Payment $211 $234

Diversity

Colorado College Macalester College
% Men 0% 0%
% Women 1% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 64% 66%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 9% 5%
% International 7% 14%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Colorado College Macalester College
% In-State 19% 18%
% Out-of-State 77% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Colorado College is larger than than Macalester College based on total student enrollment (2,173 students vs. 2,142 students)

Colorado College vs. Macalester College Cost Comparison

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

  • Colorado College is 4.3% more expensive to attend than Macalester College for in-state tuition ($67,458.00 vs. $64,678.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at Colorado College than Macalester College ($67,458.00 vs. $64,678.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado College than Macalester College ($35,281 vs. $38,571)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado College are 1.6% lower than costs at Macalester College ($15,228 vs. $15,477)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Macalester College than Colorado College (88% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado College students is 18.9% larger than aid received Macalester College ($47,947 vs. $40,329)

Colorado College vs. Macalester College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Colorado College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Macalester College (3.81)
  • Macalester College has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than Colorado College (20%)

Colorado College vs. Macalester College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado 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 Colorado College.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado College is higher than Macalester College (88% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Macalester College earn on average $8,100 more per year than Colorado College graduates after ten years. ($54,100 vs. $46,000)
  • Colorado College students graduate with a $2,170 lower median federal student loan debt than Macalester College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,670)
  • Colorado College graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Macalester College graduates. ($211 vs. $234)
  • More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 88%)

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