Macalester College vs. Viterbo

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

Macalester College Viterbo
Location Saint Paul, MN La Crosse, WI
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 2,142 2,301
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #104 #520
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website macalester.edu viterbo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Macalester College Viterbo
Tuition (In State) $64,678 $31,600
Tuition (Out of State) $64,678 $31,600
Room & Board $15,477 $10,680
Avg Net Price $38,571 $23,901
Avg Grant Aid $40,329 $20,319
% Receiving Grant Aid 88% 100%

Admission

Macalester College Viterbo
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,099 1,399
Admitted 2,285 1,025
Acceptance Rate 28.2% 73.3%
Enrolled % 22.7% 24.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.5
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Challenging
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 30/33 22/27
SAT Range 1350/1510 1040/1380
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

Academics

Macalester College Viterbo
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Health Professions (38%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Macalester College Viterbo
Graduation Rate 87% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,100 $44,300
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,670 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $234 $279

Diversity

Macalester College Viterbo
% Men 0% 7%
% Women 0% 30%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 89%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 14% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Macalester College Viterbo
% In-State 18% 65%
% Out-of-State 69% 32%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Viterbo University is larger than than Macalester College based on total student enrollment (2,301 students vs. 2,142 students)

Macalester College vs. Viterbo Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Macalester College or Viterbo?

  • Macalester College is 104.7% more expensive to attend than Viterbo for in-state tuition ($64,678.00 vs. $31,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 104.7% higher at Macalester College than Viterbo University ($64,678.00 vs. $31,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Viterbo University than Macalester College ($23,901 vs. $38,571)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Viterbo University are 44.9% lower than costs at Macalester College ($10,680 vs. $15,477)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Viterbo University than Macalester College (100% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Macalester College students is 98.5% larger than aid received Viterbo University ($40,329 vs. $20,319)

Macalester College vs. Viterbo Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Macalester College (1358) is 268 points higher than at Viterbo (1090)
  • Incoming Macalester College students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Viterbo (24)
  • Accepted freshman Macalester College students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Viterbo (3.5)
  • Viterbo has a higher acceptance rate (73.3%) than Macalester College (28.2%)

Macalester College vs. Viterbo Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Macalester College is higher than Viterbo University (87% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Macalester College earn on average $9,800 more per year than Viterbo graduates after ten years. ($54,100 vs. $44,300)
  • Macalester College students graduate with a $4,330 lower median federal student loan debt than Viterbo graduates. ($22,670 vs. $27,000)
  • Macalester College graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Viterbo graduates. ($234 vs. $279)
  • More Macalester College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Viterbo students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 68%)

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