Macalester College vs Brown University
Macalester College and Brown University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Macalester, a liberal arts college nestled in Saint Paul, Minnesota, boasts a tight-knit community and a focus on global engagement. Brown, an Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, is renowned for its open curriculum and research opportunities. With acceptance rates of 22% and 7%, respectively, both institutions are highly selective. Macalester's student body is more diverse, with 45% students of color compared to Brown's 36%. While Brown offers a wider range of majors, Macalester excels in the social sciences and humanities. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Macalester at 84% and Brown at 96%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Brown University |
![]() Macalester College |
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Overview |
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Location | Providence, Rhode Island | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 5.5% | 31.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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$40 |
SAT range | 1460 - 1570 | 1340 - 1515 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 29 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 35.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 30.0% | 39.0% |
Total number of applicants | 46,568 | 9,046 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,568 | 2,828 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,705 | 601 |
Yield rate | 66.4% | 21.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $82,570 | $76,357 |
Average net price | $25,028 | $30,939 |
Tuition | $60,944 | $60,288 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,054
Meal plan:
$6,292
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Room/dormitory:
$7,272
Meal plan:
$6,270
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
46.0%
Average amount $55,420 |
87.0%
Average amount $42,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
9.0%
Average amount $5,159 |
39.0%
Average amount $4,799 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $27,008 |
29.0%
Average amount $4,321 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,349
Men 48.1% Women 51.9% |
2,244
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
Graduate students |
3,347
Men 50.0% Women 50.0% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 96.5% | N/A |
International students | 18.6% | 13.5% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 5,013 | 1,332 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California Mississippi New Jersey Texas | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 95.8% | 89.7% |
Dropout rate | 3.7% | 10.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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