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Colleges / Macalester College

Macalester College

St. Paul, MN 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate27%
Acceptance Rate27%

Macalester College Tuition Information

In 2022, Macalester College's tuition was $62,040 a year.

Tuition increased 2.91% in 2022–from $60,288 the previous year. Usually, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

Remember, the displayed price of tuition does not always tell the full story. Many students owe far less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Additionally, student loans can make theprice of collegefeel more doable until you're done with college.

Macalester College: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

Macalester College is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from Minnesota as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Take the time to verify your state's rules for in-state residency. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be other criteria as well, depending on where you live.

Explore other Minnesota colleges

Tuition for International Students at Macalester College

Macalester College has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may be eligible for private or Macalester College-specific aid and scholarships. International students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Macalester College:

•On-campus jobs •Macalester College-specific loans •Macalester College-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.


Macalester College Room, Board, Fees, and More


In addition to tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when estimating the cost of attendance for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Macalester College.

Room and Board Costs at Macalester College

Housing and campus dining at Macalester College costs $14,000 a year. This number covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that enables you to eat in the school dining halls.

Board costs can depend on the numnber of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at Macalester College

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have resources for students with demonstrated need to get help covering these fees.

The Cost of Transportation at Macalester College

The cost of transportation in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus walkable? Do you own a car, or will you need to use public transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. At Macalester College, freshman are not allowed to park on campus.

Where are a college is located can also have a big effect on your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in a city might be pricey, but cities may offer more buses, trains or affordable flights to actually get to school. The Macalester College campus is in a urban setting in Minnesota.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, don’t forget to consider the cost of things like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.


The Full Cost of Attending Macalester College


Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better idea of what is really costs to go to Macalester College.

How Much Does Macalester College Cost?

What will the cost of attending Macalester College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $62,040
Room and Board $14,000
Other expenses $1,547

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $78,670
Off-Campus $64,670

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

Macalester College’s tuition and fees change based on: •Course load for part-time students


Macalester College Financial Aid


The majority of Macalester College undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2022, 1,421 of the 2,247 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Macalester College meets 97.3% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $54,387 a year. Around 61.23% of Macalester College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Macalester College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $25,181 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $19,799
State Loans $25,423
Macalester College-Specific Loans $10,511
Private Loans $48,923
Most Common Loans for Macalester College Students
Federal Loans 54.87%
State loans 0.85%
Institutional Loans 21.82%
Private loans 4.24%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Macalester College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Macalester College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Macalester College awarded 1,408 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $69.6 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $8.32 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Macalester College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Macalester College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Macalester College was $54,387 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Macalester College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $24,283
Off-Campus $10,283

What will attending Macalester College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Macalester College's net cost calculator on their website.

Macalester College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Macalester College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Macalester College Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Macalester College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.


Learn More About Macalester College


Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Macalester College

Macalester College Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$77,123

In State

$77,123

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$62,040
$62,040
Fees
$230
$230
Housing
$14,000
$14,000
Books
$853
$853

Macalester College Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

64%

Average Financial Aid Package

$55,594

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

2,244

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

27%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$62,270

Out-of-State

$62,270

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 15
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