Grinnell vs. Macalester College

Comparable Facts

Compare Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA with Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Macalester College is larger than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,138 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Grinnell College is located in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting); Macalester College is in Saint Paul, MN (Large City setting).
• Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Macalester College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Grinnell College 9:1; Macalester College 10:1.

Grinnell vs. Macalester College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or Macalester College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grinnell College than Macalester College ($34,363 vs. $40,225).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 6.4% lower than at Grinnell College ($15,760 vs. $16,842).
• Grinnell College is 0% more expensive for in-state tuition than Macalester College (about $2 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $68,104.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0% higher at Grinnell than at Macalester College (about $2 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $68,104.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grinnell College than at Macalester College (94% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 14.8% larger than aid received by Macalester College students ($49,077 vs. $42,766).

Grinnell vs. Macalester College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell or Macalester College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Macalester College and Grinnell.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grinnell College (1480) is 50 points higher than at Macalester College (1430).
• Incoming Grinnell students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at Macalester College (32).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 1410/1540; Macalester College 1350/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 31/34; Macalester College 30/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Grinnell - Test optional; Macalester College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027; Macalester College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Macalester College (3.81).
• Macalester College has a higher acceptance rate (28.5%) than Grinnell (14.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.9% at Grinnell vs. 21.9% at Macalester College.

Grinnell vs. Macalester College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Grinnell and Macalester College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Grinnell College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Macalester College's (87%).
• Graduates from Grinnell College earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Macalester College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $9,500 lower median loan debt than Macalester College graduates ($13,170 vs. $22,670).
• Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Macalester College graduates ($136 vs. $234).
• More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grinnell students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 87%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.