Macalester College vs. Furman

Should I go to Macalester College or Furman University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Macalester College or Furman 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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Macalester College vs. Furman University comparison
Macalester College Furman University College 3 College 4
Macalester College Furman University
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Overview

Macalester College Furman
Location Saint Paul, MN Greenville, SC
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,175 2,443
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #97 #102
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website macalester.edu furman.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Macalester College Furman
Tuition (In State) $62,270 $55,392
Tuition (Out of State) $62,270 $55,392
Room & Board $14,000 $15,148
Avg Net Price $36,095 $33,370
Avg Grant Aid $40,262 $36,384
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 100%

Admission

Macalester College Furman
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,434 7,514
Admitted 2,397 5,036
Acceptance Rate 28.4% 67%
Enrolled % 23% 12.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.61
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 30/34 27/32
SAT Range 1340/1500 1260/1455
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

Macalester College Furman
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Macalester College Furman
Graduation Rate 87% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,100 $54,300
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,670 $25,443
Median Loan Payment $234 $263

Diversity

Macalester College Furman
% Men 42% 40%
% Women 58% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 78%
% Black 2% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 14% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Macalester College Furman
% In-State 18% 37%
% Out-of-State 69% 60%

Campus

Macalester College Furman
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

  • Furman University is larger than than Macalester College based on total student enrollment (2,443 students vs. 2,175 students)

Macalester College vs. Furman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Macalester College or Furman?

  • Macalester College is 12.4% more expensive to attend than Furman for in-state tuition ($62,270.00 vs. $55,392.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.4% higher at Macalester College than Furman University ($62,270.00 vs. $55,392.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Furman University than Macalester College ($33,370 vs. $36,095)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 8.2% lower than costs at Furman University ($14,000 vs. $15,148)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Furman University than Macalester College (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Macalester College students is 10.7% larger than aid received Furman University ($40,262 vs. $36,384)

Macalester College vs. Furman Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Macalester College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Furman (3.61)
  • Furman has a higher acceptance rate (67%) than Macalester College (28.4%)

Macalester College vs. Furman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Macalester College or Furman? 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 Furman and Macalester College.

  • The graduation rate at Macalester College is the same as at Furman University (87% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Furman University earn on average $200 more per year than Macalester College graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $54,100)
  • Macalester College students graduate with a $2,773 lower median federal student loan debt than Furman graduates. ($22,670 vs. $25,443)
  • Macalester College graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Furman graduates. ($234 vs. $263)
  • More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Furman students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 82%)

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