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Academics

Macalester College
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Macalester College?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

10:1
Student to faculty ratio
17
Average class size
81%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

Macalester has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
76
10-19
245
20-29
114
30-39
23
40-49
4

Honors Programs

Macalester College has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on Macalester's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Macalester College:

95%
First-year retention rate
81%
4-year grad rate
90%
6-year grad rate

The average base annual salary of students who were employed within six months of graduation is $57,000. This is higher than the national average of $48,300.

$57,000
$48,300 (National Average)

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Macalester College's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Mathematics, General
Political Science and Government, General
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
34.2
37.56
40.92
44.28
47.64
51

The Full List

Major Graduates
Area
  • Asian Studies/Civilization 2
  • Women's Studies 1
  • Latin American Studies 1
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 37
  • Neuroscience 31
Communication
  • Mass Communication/Media Studies 10
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 50
Education
  • Education, General 0
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • Creative Writing 10
  • English Language and Literature, General 7
Foreign Languages
  • Spanish Language and Literature 7
  • Linguistics 7
  • Japanese Language and Literature 5
  • Chinese Language and Literature 2
  • Russian Language and Literature 2
  • German Language and Literature 2
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 2
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 2
  • French Language and Literature 0
History
  • History, General 8
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 39
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • International/Globalization Studies 19
  • Geography and Environmental Studies 15
  • Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies 9
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 2
  • Computational Science 0
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Studies 22
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 12
  • Religion/Religious Studies 5
Physical Sciences
  • Physics, General 16
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 13
  • Chemistry, General 10
Psychology
  • Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 32
Social Sciences
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 51
  • Political Science and Government, General 38
  • Sociology, General 13
  • Anthropology, General 11
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Music, General 7
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General 7
  • Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other 4
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation 2
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 0

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