Macalester College vs. Kenyon

Deciding between Macalester College and Kenyon College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Macalester College
Kenyon College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Macalester College Saint Paul, MN
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • Setting
  • Macalester College Large City
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Macalester College 2,138
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • Type
  • Macalester College Private 4 Year
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Macalester College #97
  • Kenyon #62
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Macalester College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Kenyon -
  • Status
  • Macalester College Non-profit
  • Kenyon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Macalester College
  • Kenyon
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Macalester College $68,104
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Macalester College $68,104
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Room & Board
  • Macalester College $15,760
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • Average Net Price
  • Macalester College $40,225
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Macalester College $42,766
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Macalester College 87%
  • Kenyon 82%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Macalester College 8,968
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • Admitted
  • Macalester College 2,558
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Macalester College 28.5%
  • Kenyon 31%
  • Enrolled
  • Macalester College 21.9%
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Macalester College 1430
  • Kenyon 1430
  • Typical ACT score
  • Macalester College 32
  • Kenyon 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Macalester College 3.81
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Macalester College A-
  • Kenyon A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Macalester College Exceptional
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Macalester College High
  • Kenyon High
  • ACT Range
  • Macalester College 30/34
  • Kenyon 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • Macalester College 1350/1510
  • Kenyon 1358/1503
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Macalester College Test optional
  • Kenyon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Macalester College Jan 15, 2027
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Macalester College 10:1
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Macalester College
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (10%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Macalester College 87%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Macalester College $54,100
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Macalester College 89%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Macalester College $22,670
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Macalester College $234
  • Kenyon $196
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Macalester College 43%
  • Kenyon 44%
  • % Women
  • Macalester College 57%
  • Kenyon 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Macalester College Medium
  • Kenyon Low
  • HBCU
  • Macalester College No
  • Kenyon No
  • % White
  • Macalester College 66%
  • Kenyon 73%
  • % Asian
  • Macalester College 7%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Black
  • Macalester College 2%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Macalester College 6%
  • Kenyon 7%
  • % Native American
  • Macalester College 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Macalester College 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Macalester College 5%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % International
  • Macalester College 14%
  • Kenyon 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Macalester College 0%
  • Kenyon 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Macalester College 14%
  • Kenyon 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Macalester College 63%
  • Kenyon 78%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Macalester College Yes
  • Kenyon Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Macalester College Yes
  • Kenyon Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Macalester College Yes
  • Kenyon Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Macalester College No
  • Kenyon No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Macalester College No
  • Kenyon No

Comparable Facts

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

Kenyon College is larger than Macalester College based on total student enrollment (2,249 students vs. 2,138 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Macalester College is located in Saint Paul, MN (Large City setting); Kenyon College is in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting).
  • Macalester College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kenyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Macalester College 10:1; Kenyon College 9:1.

Macalester College vs. Kenyon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Macalester College or Kenyon? 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 Macalester College than Kenyon ($40,225 vs. $46,859).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kenyon College are 0.8% lower than at Macalester College ($15,640 vs. $15,760).
  • Kenyon College is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Macalester College (about $3,416 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $68,104.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at Kenyon than at Macalester College (about $3,416 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $68,104.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Macalester College than at Kenyon College (87% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Macalester College students is 5% larger than aid received by Kenyon College students ($42,766 vs. $40,731).

Macalester College vs. Kenyon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Macalester College or Kenyon? 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 Kenyon and Macalester College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Macalester College (1430) is the same as at Kenyon (1430).
  • Incoming Macalester College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at Kenyon (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Macalester College 1350/1510; Kenyon College 1358/1503.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Macalester College 30/34; Kenyon College 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Macalester College - Test optional; Kenyon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Macalester College Jan 15, 2027; Kenyon Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kenyon students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Macalester College (3.81).
  • Kenyon has a higher acceptance rate (31%) than Macalester College (28.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.9% at Macalester College vs. 18.3% at Kenyon.

Macalester College vs. Kenyon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Macalester College and Kenyon? 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).

  • The graduation rate at Macalester College is the same as at Kenyon College (87% vs. 87%).
  • Graduates from Macalester College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Kenyon graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,100 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kenyon College graduates have a $3,670 lower median loan debt than Macalester College graduates ($19,000 vs. $22,670).
  • Among borrowers, Kenyon graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Macalester College graduates ($196 vs. $234).
  • More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kenyon 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.