Cornell College vs. Macalester College

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

Cornell College Macalester College
Location Mount Vernon, IA Saint Paul, MN
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,073 2,175
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #424 #97
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cornellcollege.edu macalester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cornell College Macalester College
Tuition (In State) $48,514 $62,270
Tuition (Out of State) $48,514 $62,270
Room & Board $10,872 $14,000
Avg Net Price $25,686 $36,095
Avg Grant Aid $38,069 $40,262
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 89%

Admission

Cornell College Macalester College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,057 8,434
Admitted 2,425 2,397
Acceptance Rate 79.3% 28.4%
Enrolled % 13.6% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.81
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 23/30 30/34
SAT Range 1170/1380 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

Academics

Cornell College Macalester College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Cornell College Macalester College
Graduation Rate 70% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,400 $54,100
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,670
Median Loan Payment $279 $234

Diversity

Cornell College Macalester College
% Men 52% 42%
% Women 48% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 66%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 13% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 3% 14%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

Cornell College Macalester College
% In-State 30% 18%
% Out-of-State 67% 69%

Campus

Cornell College Macalester College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No 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 Cornell College based on total student enrollment (2,175 students vs. 1,073 students)

Cornell College vs. Macalester College Cost Comparison

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

  • Macalester College is 28.4% more expensive to attend than Cornell College for in-state tuition ($62,270.00 vs. $48,514.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.4% higher at Macalester College than Cornell College ($62,270.00 vs. $48,514.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cornell College than Macalester College ($25,686 vs. $36,095)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell College are 28.8% lower than costs at Macalester College ($10,872 vs. $14,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cornell College than Macalester College (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Macalester College students is 5.8% larger than aid received Cornell College ($40,262 vs. $38,069)

Cornell College vs. Macalester College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Macalester College (1358) is 181 points higher than at Cornell College (1177)
  • Incoming Macalester College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Cornell College (26)
  • Accepted freshman Macalester College students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Cornell College (3.53)
  • Cornell College has a higher acceptance rate (79.3%) than Macalester College (28.4%)

Cornell College vs. Macalester College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cornell 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 Cornell College.

  • The graduation rate at Macalester College is higher than Cornell College (87% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Macalester College earn on average $8,700 more per year than Cornell College graduates after ten years. ($54,100 vs. $45,400)
  • Macalester College students graduate with a $4,330 lower median federal student loan debt than Cornell College graduates. ($22,670 vs. $27,000)
  • Macalester College graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Cornell College graduates. ($234 vs. $279)
  • More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 74%)

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