Macalester College vs Stanford
Macalester College and Stanford 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 undergraduate teaching. Stanford, a prestigious research university located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is renowned for its academic excellence and groundbreaking research. With acceptance rates of 22% and 4%, respectively, these institutions cater to different applicant pools. Macalester's popular majors include political science, economics, and biology, while Stanford students often pursue degrees in computer science, engineering, and business. Explore the comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Macalester College |
![]() Stanford University |
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Overview |
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Location | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Stanford, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 96.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 31.3% | 3.9% |
Application fees | $40 |
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$125
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SAT range | 1340 - 1515 | 1470 - 1570 |
ACT range | 29 - 33 | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 15.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | 11.0% |
Total number of applicants | 9,046 | 55,471 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,828 | 2,190 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 601 | 1,757 |
Yield rate | 21.3% | 80.2% |
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) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $76,357 | $78,898 |
Average net price | $30,939 | $14,402 |
Tuition | $60,288 | $55,473 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,272
Meal plan:
$6,270
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Room/dormitory:
$11,166
Meal plan:
$6,694
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
87.0%
Average amount $42,832 |
61.0%
Average amount $56,211 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
39.0%
Average amount $4,799 |
5.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
Students taking out private loans |
29.0%
Average amount $4,321 |
1.0%
Average amount $17,186 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,244
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
7,645
Men 49.4% Women 50.6% |
Graduate students | N/A |
10,035
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 58.5% |
International students | 13.5% | 24.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,332 | 14,621 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | California Texas Washington New York Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 5:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 89.7% | 95.5% |
Dropout rate | 10.0% | 1.7% |
Transferred out | N/A | 0.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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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Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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