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Carleton College Grinnell Oberlin Kenyon St Olaf Oxy Minnesota Reed Case Western Wesleyan University Whitman College Bennington| Macalester College | Bard College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Macalester College | Bard College | ||
| Location | Saint Paul, MN | Annandale-On-Hudson, NY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 2,142 | 2,922 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #104 | #180 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | macalester.edu | bard.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Macalester College | Bard College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,678 | $62,790 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,678 | $62,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,477 | $18,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $38,571 | $25,218 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $40,329 | $56,380 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 88% | 77% |
Admission |
Macalester College | Bard College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,099 | 6,628 | ||
| Admitted | 2,285 | 3,466 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 28.2% | 52.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.7% | 11.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 30/33 | 30/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1350/1510 | 1290/1440 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Macalester College | Bard College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Macalester College | Bard College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 76% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,100 | $41,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 89% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,670 | $26,194 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $234 | $270 |
Diversity |
Macalester College | Bard College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 10% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 66% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 0% | ||
| % International | 14% | 10% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 11% |
Students |
Macalester College | Bard College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 18% | 31% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 59% | ||
Campus |
Macalester College | Bard College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Bard College is larger than than Macalester College based on total student enrollment (2,922 students vs. 2,142 students)
Macalester College vs. Bard College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Macalester College or Bard College?
- Macalester College is 3% more expensive to attend than Bard College for in-state tuition ($64,678.00 vs. $62,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3% higher at Macalester College than Bard College ($64,678.00 vs. $62,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Macalester College ($25,218 vs. $38,571)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 16.6% lower than costs at Bard College ($15,477 vs. $18,040)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Macalester College than Bard College (88% vs. 77%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 39.8% larger than aid received Macalester College ($56,380 vs. $40,329)
Macalester College vs. Bard College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Macalester College or Bard College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bard College or Macalester College .
- Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Macalester College (28.2%)
Macalester College vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Macalester College or Bard 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 Bard College and Macalester College.
- The graduation rate at Macalester College is higher than Bard College (87% vs. 76%)
- Graduates from Macalester College earn on average $12,500 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($54,100 vs. $41,600)
- Macalester College students graduate with a $3,524 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($22,670 vs. $26,194)
- Macalester College graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($234 vs. $270)
- More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 81%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/