Hillsdale College vs. Macalester College

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

Hillsdale College Macalester College
Location Hillsdale, Michigan Saint Paul, MN
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,678 2,175
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #97
Religious Affiliation Undenominational Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hillsdale.edu macalester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Hillsdale College Macalester College
Tuition (In State) $29,590 $62,270
Tuition (Out of State) $29,590 $62,270
Room & Board $12,500 $14,000
Avg Net Price $24,196 $36,095
Avg Grant Aid $21,093 $40,262
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 89%

Admission

Hillsdale College Macalester College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,017 8,434
Admitted 621 2,397
Acceptance Rate 20.6% 28.4%
Enrolled % 62.3% 23%
Avg High School GPA 3.93 3.81
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High High
ACT Range 30/34 30/34
SAT Range 1360/1520 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 Mar 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Hillsdale College Macalester College
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Hillsdale College Macalester College
Graduation Rate - 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $54,100
Making Student Loan Payments - 89%
Median Student Loan Debt N/A $22,670
Median Loan Payment N/A $234

Diversity

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

Students

Hillsdale College Macalester College
% In-State 21% 18%
% Out-of-State 78% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Macalester College is larger than than Hillsdale College based on total student enrollment (2,175 students vs. 1,678 students)

Hillsdale College vs. Macalester College Cost Comparison

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

  • Macalester College is 110.4% more expensive to attend than Hillsdale College for in-state tuition ($62,270.00 vs. $29,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 110.4% higher at Macalester College than Hillsdale College ($62,270.00 vs. $29,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hillsdale College than Macalester College ($24,196 vs. $36,095)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hillsdale College are 12% lower than costs at Macalester College ($12,500 vs. $14,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hillsdale College than Macalester College (99% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Macalester College students is 90.9% larger than aid received Hillsdale College ($40,262 vs. $21,093)

Hillsdale College vs. Macalester College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Hillsdale College students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Macalester College (3.81)
  • Macalester College has a higher acceptance rate (28.4%) than Hillsdale College (20.6%)

Hillsdale College vs. Macalester College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale College.

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