Macalester College - Admission Requirements, SAT, ACT, GPA and chance of acceptance

Your chances of getting into Macalester College

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted

28.2%

Admission Difficulty for Macalester College
Measure	Difficulty
Admission Standards		Exceptional
Applicant Competition		High

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Macalester College is 28.2%. Its admission rate is the 2nd lowest in Minnesota and the 101st lowest the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Macalester College and can you get accepted?

Macalester College is a highly competitive school to get into. You have a moderate chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, only 2,285 out of the 8,099 who applied were admitted.

Macalester College typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.81. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. 23% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Macalester College?

28% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Macalester College you should:

Have a high school GPA of 3.81 or better
Earn A- grades in high school
Score 1430 on the SAT
Score 31 on the ACT
Graduate in the top 10% of your high school class

Macalester College GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA

3.81*

Typical High School Grades

A-

What GPA do you need to get into Macalester College?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into Macalester College are to have around a 3.81 high school GPA. You are required to have exceptionally good grades and you should be graduating near the top of your class.

Even with a competitive GPA, admission to Macalester College will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at Macalester College is 3.81 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn A- letter grades and regularly score around 90-92 percent on tests and assignments in high school. The school ranks #2 in Minnesota for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since Macalester College is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.8 GPA range.

*This school has not published high school GPA data for its incoming freshman class. In these cases, CollegeSimply uses an algorithm to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of college GPA data. 3.81 is a prediction of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.

Calculate My Chances

Macalester College SAT Scores

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Macalester College. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 30% of students submitted SAT scores and 28% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range

1350-1510

Applicants Submitting SAT

30%

SAT Scores for Macalester College
SAT Test	25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile	680
Math 25th Percentile	670
Composite 25th Percentile	1350

SAT Scores for Macalester College
SAT Test	75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile	750
Math 75th Percentile	760
Composite 75th Percentile	1510
Average SAT Score	1430

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Macalester College?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Macalester College is 1430 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1350-1510. Students who get into Macalester College score in the top 8 percent of all SAT test takers.. Macalester College ranks #2 in the state of Minnesota and #77 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1430 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Macalester College regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1350 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1350, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1270, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Macalester College is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1430 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2023 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1430, you have around a 28% chance of being admitted. A 1510 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 42% chance of getting in.

Macalester College admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1510 and Above	Good	>42%
1430 to 1510	Avg +	28%-42%
1350 to 1430	Avg -	17%-28%
1270 to 1350	Reach	10%-17%
Less than 1270	Low	<10%

Calculate My Chances

Macalester College ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range

30-33

Applicants Submitting ACT

28%

ACT Scores for Macalester College
ACT Test	25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile	30
Math 25th Percentile	26
Composite 25th Percentile	30

ACT Scores for Macalester College
ACT Test	75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile	35
Math 75th Percentile	32
Composite 75th Percentile	33
Average ACT Score	31

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Macalester College?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Macalester College is 31, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 30 and 33. The school ranks #2 in Minnesota and #100 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 31. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 30 and score in the score in the top 7 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 28.

28 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Macalester College.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Macalester College is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2023 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Macalester College for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 31 score has around 28% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 48% with a 33 ACT score.

Macalester College admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
33 and Above	Good	>48%
31 to 33	Avg +	28%-48%
30 to 31	Avg -	20%-28%
29 to 30	Reach	14%-20%
Less than 29	Low	<14%

Calculate My Chances

High School Class Rank

61% of Macalester College freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Macalester College students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	61%
Top 25% of class	87%
Top 50% of class	99%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Macalester College admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	4,578	3,521	8,099
Accepted	1,391	894	2,285
Acceptance Rate	30%	25%	28%
Enrolled	279	239	518
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	20%	27%	23%

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2023 starting class

Fall 2025 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 15, 2025

Days left to Apply

None

The application deadline for Fall 2025 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 15, 2025.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Macalester College is $0. The school is free to apply to.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Macalester College and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Macalester College Application Requirements
Test Scores	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
High School Class Rank	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Recommendations	Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies	Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Macalester College
AP Credit	Yes
Dual Credit	No
Credit for Life Experiences	No

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Macalester College is highly competitive, you have a moderate chance of acceptance depending on your GPA and test scores. If you earn at least a 3.81 GPA, you will have a fair shot at getting in. Additionally, you should score a 1430 on the SAT or 31 on the ACT to be competitive. If you can score a 1510 SAT you will be a very strong applicant.