Macalester College vs. U of R

Should I go to Macalester College or University of Rochester? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Macalester College or U of R 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Carleton College Case Western Grinnell Oberlin RPI Colgate BU Vassar Kenyon Lehigh Hamilton College St Olaf
Macalester College vs. University of Rochester comparison
Macalester College University of Rochester College 3 College 4
Macalester College University of Rochester
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Macalester College U of R
Location Saint Paul, MN Rochester, NY
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 2,142 12,160
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #104 #56
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website macalester.edu rochester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Macalester College U of R
Tuition (In State) $64,678 $63,150
Tuition (Out of State) $64,678 $63,150
Room & Board $15,477 $18,924
Avg Net Price $38,571 $40,900
Avg Grant Aid $40,329 $41,700
% Receiving Grant Aid 88% 74%

Admission

Macalester College U of R
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,099 21,680
Admitted 2,285 7,773
Acceptance Rate 28.2% 35.9%
Enrolled % 22.7% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition High High
ACT Range 30/33 31/34
SAT Range 1350/1510 1400/1540
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 5, 2026

Academics

Macalester College U of R
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 (20%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)

Outcomes

Macalester College U of R
Graduation Rate 87% 83%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,100 $71,000
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,670 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $234 $253

Diversity

Macalester College U of R
% Men 0% 21%
% Women 0% 24%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 48%
% Black 2% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 14% 18%
% Unknown Race 0% 7%

Students

Macalester College U of R
% In-State 18% 25%
% Out-of-State 69% 44%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Rochester is larger than than Macalester College based on total student enrollment (12,160 students vs. 2,142 students)

Macalester College vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Macalester College or U of R?

  • Macalester College is 2.4% more expensive to attend than U of R for in-state tuition ($64,678.00 vs. $63,150.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.4% higher at Macalester College than University of Rochester ($64,678.00 vs. $63,150.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Macalester College than U of R ($38,571 vs. $40,900)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 22.3% lower than costs at University of Rochester ($15,477 vs. $18,924)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Macalester College than University of Rochester (88% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rochester students is 3.4% larger than aid received Macalester College ($41,700 vs. $40,329)

Macalester College vs. U of R Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Macalester College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at U of R (3.75)
  • U of R has a higher acceptance rate (35.9%) than Macalester College (28.2%)

Macalester College vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Macalester College or U of R? 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 U of R and Macalester College.

  • The graduation rate at Macalester College is higher than University of Rochester (87% vs. 83%)
  • Graduates from University of Rochester earn on average $16,900 more per year than Macalester College graduates after ten years. ($71,000 vs. $54,100)
  • Macalester College students graduate with a $1,830 lower median federal student loan debt than U of R graduates. ($22,670 vs. $24,500)
  • Macalester College graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than U of R graduates. ($234 vs. $253)
  • More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of R students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 79%)

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