Macalester College vs. Whitman College

Should I go to Macalester College or Whitman College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Macalester College or Whitman College 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 Grinnell Lewis and Clark Reed Oberlin Kenyon Gonzaga St Olaf Oxy Minnesota UW-Seattle Whitworth University
Macalester College vs. Whitman College comparison
Macalester College Whitman College College 3 College 4
Macalester College Whitman College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Macalester College Whitman College
Location Saint Paul, MN Walla Walla, WA
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 2,175 1,493
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #97 #84
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website macalester.edu whitman.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Macalester College Whitman College
Tuition (In State) $62,270 $58,200
Tuition (Out of State) $62,270 $58,200
Room & Board $14,000 $14,220
Avg Net Price $36,095 $39,935
Avg Grant Aid $40,262 $32,047
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 94%

Admission

Macalester College Whitman College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,434 5,497
Admitted 2,397 2,622
Acceptance Rate 28.4% 47.7%
Enrolled % 23% 12.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 30/34 30/33
SAT Range 1340/1500 1293/1473
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 Whitman College
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 (25%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Physical Sciences (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Macalester College Whitman College
Graduation Rate 87% 86%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,100 $56,900
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 93%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,670 $17,500
Median Loan Payment $234 $180

Diversity

Macalester College Whitman College
% Men 42% 44%
% Women 58% 56%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 72%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 6% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 14% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Macalester College Whitman College
% In-State 18% 27%
% Out-of-State 69% 59%

Campus

Macalester College Whitman College
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

  • Macalester College is larger than than Whitman College based on total student enrollment (2,175 students vs. 1,493 students)

Macalester College vs. Whitman College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Macalester College or Whitman College?

  • Macalester College is 7% more expensive to attend than Whitman College for in-state tuition ($62,270.00 vs. $58,200.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7% higher at Macalester College than Whitman College ($62,270.00 vs. $58,200.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Macalester College than Whitman College ($36,095 vs. $39,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Macalester College are 1.6% lower than costs at Whitman College ($14,000 vs. $14,220)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Whitman College than Macalester College (94% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Macalester College students is 25.6% larger than aid received Whitman College ($40,262 vs. $32,047)

Macalester College vs. Whitman College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Macalester College (1358) is 44 points higher than at Whitman College (1314)
  • Incoming Macalester College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Whitman College (30)
  • Accepted freshman Macalester College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Whitman College (3.68)
  • Whitman College has a higher acceptance rate (47.7%) than Macalester College (28.4%)

Macalester College vs. Whitman College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Macalester College or Whitman 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 Whitman College and Macalester College.

  • The graduation rate at Macalester College is higher than Whitman College (87% vs. 86%)
  • Graduates from Whitman College earn on average $2,800 more per year than Macalester College graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $54,100)
  • Whitman College students graduate with a $5,170 lower median federal student loan debt than Macalester College graduates. ($17,500 vs. $22,670)
  • Whitman College graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than Macalester College graduates. ($180 vs. $234)
  • More Whitman College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Macalester College students, three years after graduation. (93% vs. 89%)

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