Macalester is test-optional, and it really means it. In fall 2025, 44% of new students applied without scores, and 80% of that group still received a merit scholarship. The ACT and SAT ranges above only describe students who chose to send scores. If your student’s scores land below that range, leaving them off is a perfectly normal move here and will not cost them merit money.
🏆 Full tuition for families earning $100K or less (Tuition Promise)
Average Net Price
$40,225/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
Avg. $19,195/yr (holistic)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
10 opportunities
6 automatic · 4 hidden gem
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-optional
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 1 • FAFSA: Nov 9
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Tuition Promise ($100K income or less)
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA & CSS Profile
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Macalester (Read This First)
Merit is a judgment call, not a chart. There is no GPA or test score that guarantees an award. About half of Mac students get merit, and it is decided by reading the whole application.
Check the financial aid box on the admission application. In most cases, students who do not say they are applying for aid cannot come back and apply for need-based aid later.
Both parents file the CSS Profile, even if they are divorced or separated. If your student has no contact with one parent, you can ask Macalester to waive that requirement.
Merit is set once and never changes. It is decided at admission, nothing is added later, and it does not grow when tuition goes up. The upside: there is no GPA requirement to keep it.
Thinking about Early Decision? Get the Early Financial Aid Assessment first. Between Aug 1 and Dec 15, Macalester will tell you your aid and merit picture before you sign a binding commitment.
The Tuition Promise is not a mailing list. Families earning $100K or less still have to file the aid forms on time, and Macalester counts 401(k) and IRA contributions as income.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Macalester College is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 30-33; SAT: 1360-1510.
Average net price? About $40,225/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Macalester College: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Macalester College has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,800 to $4,600 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$92,154
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$74,724
Housing & meals (typical)
$17,430
Total billed cost
$92,154
Average federal net price: $40,225 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
Macalester is a private college, so everyone pays the same tuition whether they live in St. Paul or Seattle. There are no out-of-state surcharges to dodge and no regional tuition exchange to apply for. The sticker price is the same for every family; merit and need-based aid are what bring it down.
One Price for Everyone
Macalester charges the same tuition whether your family lives in Minnesota or Maine, so there is no out-of-state premium to fight. What changes the price is aid. Macalester meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for every admitted student, and starting with students who enter in fall 2026, domestic families earning $100,000 or less (with typical assets) get full tuition covered through the Macalester Tuition Promise.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Macalester College
Why is the price over $90,000 a year?
The bill Macalester sends for 2026–27 adds up to $92,154: tuition with required course materials ($74,394), a residence hall ($9,268), a meal plan ($8,162), and a $330 activity fee. Very few families pay that full amount. Most get need-based aid, merit money, or both.
What do families actually pay after aid?
The latest federal data (2023–24) shows an average net price of about $40,225 for students receiving grants. It swings a lot by income: families under $75,000 paid roughly $11,000 to $14,000 on average, families between $75,001 and $110,000 paid about $20,500, and families above $110,000 paid about $44,900. Those numbers come from before the Tuition Promise started, so families under $100,000 should see tuition fully covered going forward.
Who qualifies for the Macalester Tuition Promise?
U.S. citizens and permanent residents whose student and parents live in the U.S., with family income of $100,000 or less and assets that are typical for that income. Income means adjusted gross income plus untaxed income like 401(k) and IRA contributions. There is no separate application; you just file the regular aid forms (CSS Profile, FAFSA, and tax documents through IDOC) and Macalester checks you automatically each year.
Is there an out-of-state discount or tuition exchange?
No, and you do not need one. Macalester is private, so every student pays the same tuition no matter where they are from.
Do we have to buy textbooks?
Mostly no. Since 2024–25, tuition includes required course materials, which students rent. Macalester only estimates about $104 a year for other supplies.
What costs are not on the bill?
Health insurance is a separate $3,329 charge, and you can waive it if your student is covered by a qualifying family plan. Macalester also budgets about $2,400 for personal expenses, $954 for a computer, and up to $1,000 for travel depending on your home state. Add those in and the full yearly cost lands around $96,000 to $97,000 before aid.
Will our merit scholarship go up when tuition goes up?
No. Macalester locks in merit amounts at admission and does not adjust them up or down later. Need-based aid is recalculated each year, so that part can grow if your family’s need does.
Aug 1 to Dec 15: Early Financial Aid Assessment window. Early Decision families can see their aid and merit before committing.
Nov 1 / Nov 9: Early Decision I and Early Action applications due, then aid forms (CSS Profile, FAFSA, IDOC) on Nov 9.
Jan 1 / Jan 8: Early Decision II application, then aid forms.
Jan 15 / Jan 22: Regular Decision application, then aid forms.
Parent rule of thumb: merit is considered in every round, so you are not penalized for applying later. The aid form deadline for your round is the one you cannot miss.
Automatic Merit Scholarships: Macalester College
Every applicant is automatically considered for merit, with no separate scholarship application and no FAFSA or CSS Profile required for merit alone. Here is the catch: being considered is automatic, but the award is not. Macalester reads the whole application rather than using score cutoffs. In 2023–24, about 15% of merit awards were $1,000 to $10,000, 24% were $10,001 to $16,000, 36% were $16,001 to $20,000, and 24% were $20,001 to $23,000. The average award for 2025–26 was $19,195.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Full TuitionAutomatic
Macalester Tuition Promise
📅 Deadline: Nov 9 (ED I and EA aid forms) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Provides full tuition coverage for eligible students as part of the overall financial aid package. May stack with other Macalester need-based grants, Federal Pell Grant, and Minnesota State Grant, meaning some eligible students receive aid exceeding tuition to help cover room, board, and other costs. If a student also has a tuition benefit from a parent employed at Macalester, ACTC, or ACM, the Tuition Promise combines with that benefit to reach full tuition coverage. Total aid cannot exceed cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Starting with students entering fall 2026, Macalester guarantees full tuition for all admitted domestic students with family income at or below $100,000 and typical assets. Income is calculated as AGI plus non-taxed income (like 401k/IRA contributions); business or real estate losses are excluded from the calculation. Assets are assessed annually, fewer than 10% of applicants have asset levels high enough to affect eligibility. Students must renew financial aid each year to maintain the award, but there is no GPA requirement. Even students who lose Tuition Promise eligibility in a given year will still receive a need-based package.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted U.S. students (and permanent residents) whose families have adjusted gross income plus non-taxed income of $100,000 or less in the base income year, and whose assets fall within typical ranges for that income level. Both the student and parents must reside within the United States. Eligibility is determined annually via financial aid renewal.
Automatic
Macalester Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Considered with the admission application in any round (ED I and EA Nov 1, ED II Jan 1, RD Jan 15); no separate scholarship deadline ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$23,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Part of the initial financial aid offer and renewed for up to eight full-time semesters, no minimum GPA required to keep it. Combined with need-based aid to help meet demonstrated financial need. Note: if a parent works at an ACTC or ACM consortium school, the non-need-based scholarship is capped at $1,000/yr under Macalester policy.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of Macalester's named merit scholarships for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Every applicant is considered automatically, and any award arrives with the admission decision. In 2023-24, Macalester merit awards ranged from $1,000 to $23,000 a year, and the average 2025-26 award was $19,195. The amount is locked in for eight semesters with no GPA requirement to keep it, and it does not rise when tuition does.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: U.S. citizens and permanent residents whose applications stand out in Macalester's holistic review: strong grades in challenging classes, thoughtful writing, and real involvement. Test scores are optional, and leaving them off does not hurt merit chances.
Automatic
DeWitt Wallace Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Considered with the admission application in any round (ED I and EA Nov 1, ED II Jan 1, RD Jan 15); no separate scholarship deadline ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$23,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Renewed at the same amount for up to eight full-time semesters, no GPA floor required. Stacks with need-based aid, which means students who also qualify for grants can combine both. Note: if a parent works at an ACTC or ACM consortium school, the non-need-based scholarship is capped at $1,000/yr under Macalester policy.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of Macalester's named merit scholarships for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. There is no separate contest for it; the name is simply the label on the merit money a student is awarded at admission. In 2023-24, Macalester merit awards ranged from $1,000 to $23,000 a year, and the average 2025-26 award was $19,195. Locked in for eight semesters with no GPA requirement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: U.S. citizens and permanent residents whose applications stand out in Macalester's holistic review. Macalester does not publish separate criteria for each named award.
Automatic
Catharine Lealtad Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Considered with the admission application in any round (ED I and EA Nov 1, ED II Jan 1, RD Jan 15); no separate scholarship deadline ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$23,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Renewed at the same amount for up to eight full-time semesters, no minimum GPA required to keep it. Stacks with need-based aid, so students who also qualify for grants can layer this on top. Note: if a parent works at an ACTC or ACM consortium school, the non-need-based scholarship is capped at $1,000 per year under Macalester policy.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of Macalester's named merit scholarships for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, honoring Catharine Lealtad, Macalester's first African American graduate. Every applicant is considered automatically and the award arrives with the admission decision. In 2023-24, Macalester merit awards ranged from $1,000 to $23,000 a year, and the average 2025-26 award was $19,195. Locked in for eight semesters with no GPA requirement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: U.S. citizens and permanent residents whose applications stand out in Macalester's holistic review. Macalester does not publish separate criteria for each named award, so think of the name as a label on your merit money rather than a separate competition.
Automaticnational merit
Macalester College National Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Follow National Merit Scholarship Corporation procedures and deadlines; Macalester has no separate institutional deadline. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ National Merit Finalists who name Macalester as first choice
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Important rule: a student may only hold one National Merit Scholarship. If you receive a National Merit award sponsored by a corporation or by NMSC itself, you will not also receive the Macalester-sponsored NM scholarship. However, if that outside award is less than $2,000/yr, Macalester tops it up to $2,000/yr; if it's nonrenewable, Macalester provides $2,000/yr for subsequent years, typically via a DeWitt Wallace Distinguished Scholarship. NMSC has its own renewal requirements separate from Macalester's (which has none).
💡
Strategic Detail
Macalester is a direct corporate sponsor of the National Merit program and guarantees at least $2,000/year in NM support for eligible finalists who first-choice Macalester. The key step most families miss: you must actively designate Macalester as first-choice in the NMSC portal, the admission application alone is not enough. NMSC renewal requirements apply separately from Macalester's (Macalester has no renewal GPA floor).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: National Merit Finalists who designate Macalester as their first-choice institution with NMSC and are not already receiving a corporate- or NMSC-sponsored National Merit Scholarship.
Automaticinternational
Charles J. Turck Presidential Honor Scholarship (International)
📅 Deadline: Considered with the admission application; international aid forms due Nov 10 (ED I and EA), Jan 8 (ED II), Jan 22 (RD) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$40,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ International students only
👥 ~Limited number of awards for international students each year. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Renewed at the same amount for up to eight full-time semesters. May be combined with need-based aid where applicable, consistent with Macalester's commitment to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.
💡
Strategic Detail
Macalester's merit scholarship for international students, awarded since 2014-15. Every international applicant is considered automatically, and awards run up to $40,000 a year for a limited number of students who show special academic promise. Locked in for eight semesters with no GPA requirement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
A select group of international students whose applications show exceptional academic achievement and strong potential to contribute to the Macalester community. Every international applicant is considered automatically, but awards go to those whose profiles stand out most in the holistic review.
Data last verified Oct 14, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: The Macalester Scholarship, DeWitt Wallace Scholarship, and Catharine Lealtad Scholarship all work the same way. They are names on the merit money your student is awarded at admission, not separate contests you apply to. The Tuition Promise is need-based and shows up through your financial aid package.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Macalester College)
How does my student apply for Macalester merit scholarships?
They just apply for admission. Every first-year applicant is considered, and any award shows up with the admission decision. Macalester does not award any additional merit after that point.
Which named scholarship will my student get?
Macalester does not publish separate criteria for the Macalester Scholarship, DeWitt Wallace Scholarship, or Catharine Lealtad Scholarship. They all follow the same rules: decided at admission, kept for eight semesters, and no GPA requirement to renew. The name matters less than the dollar amount on the letter.
Does applying Early Decision get my student more merit?
No. Macalester says Early Decision and Regular Decision applicants get the same merit consideration. The real Early Decision advantage is the Early Financial Aid Assessment, which shows you your numbers before you commit.
Do we need to send test scores to get merit?
No. In fall 2025, 80% of students who applied without scores still got a merit scholarship. Send scores only if they help tell your student’s story.
How does the Macalester Tuition Promise work with merit?
For families earning $100,000 or less, Macalester guarantees scholarships and grants that add up to at least full tuition. Merit counts toward that total, and need-based grants, the Pell Grant, or the Minnesota State Grant can push your aid above tuition to help with housing and food.
Is there a National Merit scholarship at Macalester?
Yes. National Merit Finalists who name Macalester as their first choice through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation receive a Macalester-sponsored National Merit Scholarship. If your student instead wins a corporate or national award that is smaller than $2,000 or does not renew, Macalester tops it up to $2,000 a year.
Can international students get merit?
Yes. The Charles J. Turck Presidential Honor Scholarship goes to a limited number of international students and can reach $40,000 a year. Every international applicant is considered automatically.
Is there any situation where merit gets capped?
Yes, one. If a parent works at an ACTC or ACM college and your student gets that tuition benefit, Macalester limits non-need merit to $1,000 a year.
Macalester does not run a separate competitive scholarship contest. There are no scholarship interviews, finalist weekends, or extra essays. All of Mac’s merit money is handed out through the admission review itself, and once decisions go out, the merit pot is closed. If your student wants a shot at a bigger award, the admission application is the scholarship application.
✅ How Macalester Aid Fits Together
Aid Type
Works with Merit?
Parent Translation
Merit Scholarship
N/A
One award, set at admission, kept for eight semesters.
Need-Based Grants
Yes
Many merit winners also get need-based aid. Together, Macalester meets 100% of demonstrated need.
Tuition Promise
Counts toward it
Merit is part of the full-tuition total, not added on top. Other grants can push aid past tuition.
Outside Scholarships
Included in package
Report them to the aid office. They are built into your package under Macalester’s outside scholarship policy.
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill)
Merit folds in
Your merit becomes part of Macalester’s Yellow Ribbon share instead of stacking on top.
ACTC / ACM Parent Tuition Benefit
Capped
Merit is limited to $1,000 a year for students using these benefits.
🎯 The Closest Thing to a “Big Competition”: QuestBridge
Macalester is a QuestBridge College Match partner. Finalists who rank Mac can be matched in early December, and the Match is binding. Finalists who do not match can still apply through Early Decision II or Regular Decision, and they are still considered for merit and need-based aid as long as they file the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and parent tax returns. Macalester does not publish exactly what its Match package covers, so ask the aid office if your student is a Finalist.
This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Does Macalester have a full-ride scholarship competition?
No. There is no separate full-ride contest. The biggest merit awards come straight out of the admission review, and full tuition for lower-income families comes through the Tuition Promise and need-based aid.
Can my student apply for more Macalester scholarships after being admitted?
Not for merit. Macalester awards all merit at admission and adds nothing later. Need-based aid is reviewed every year, and outside scholarships are always welcome.
Should my student write extra essays to win merit?
There are no scholarship essays. The regular application essays and activities carry the weight, so that is where the effort should go.
Is the QuestBridge Match binding at Macalester?
Yes. A matched student commits to Macalester. Non-matched Finalists can still apply Early Decision II or Regular Decision.
Is Macalester a Stamps Scholarship partner?
No, Macalester is not a Stamps partner.
Merit closes the day admission decisions go out, but Macalester still has money for students who show up and get involved. Most of it runs through the Community Engagement Center and pays for projects, not just tuition.
First or second year: Look at the Action Fund (up to $2,500 for a Twin Cities community project).
Sophomore year: Apply for the Phillips Scholarship (junior and senior scholarships plus a $4,000 summer project award).
Any year: Pitch a Davis Projects for Peace idea ($10,000 for a summer peace project anywhere in the world).
Parent translation: these will not lower the first-year bill, but they can fund a summer, a project, or a résumé line that would otherwise cost you.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These are the awards most families never hear about on a campus tour. Some only apply to specific students (National Merit Finalists, veterans), and the rest reward students who dig into community work once they arrive.
Automaticnational merit
DeWitt Wallace Distinguished Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 priority application deadline for admission ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ National Merit Finalists only
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Functions as a supplement to a non-Macalester-sponsored National Merit award. If the outside NM award is less than $2,000/yr, Macalester fills the gap to reach $2,000/yr using this scholarship. If the outside award is nonrenewable, this scholarship provides $2,000/yr ($1,000/semester) for up to six subsequent semesters. Note: if a parent works at an ACTC or ACM consortium school, all non-need-based scholarships are capped at $1,000/yr combined under Macalester policy.
💡
Strategic Detail
This award operates almost entirely behind the scenes. It's Macalester's institutional mechanism to ensure that National Merit Finalists always receive at least $2,000/year in NM support, even when a corporate sponsor pays less or their outside award doesn't renew. You won't see it advertised, it only comes into play in specific NM award scenarios, and the financial aid office applies it automatically.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
National Merit Finalists who receive a corporate- or NMSC-sponsored National Merit award that is either under $2,000 per year or nonrenewable after the first year, and who have designated Macalester as their first-choice institution. Most families never discover this exists unless they dig into Macalester's National Merit FAQ.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Phillips Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Typically during sophomore year; specific application deadlines set annually. ✓ Renews (2 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Six scholars selected each year across Minnesota private colleges winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Provides scholarship support in junior and senior years plus a funded summer project; stacks on top of existing Macalester aid and does not replace institutional merit.
📄
How to Apply
Apply during sophomore year through the Community Engagement Center with a detailed proposal for a self-designed community service project; selection is competitive among Minnesota Private College students.
Selection criteria: Competitive review emphasizing academic promise, sustained community engagement, and the feasibility and impact of the proposed service project.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Six sophomores are chosen each year from across Minnesota's private colleges. Winners get a junior-year scholarship, a $4,000 summer award to run a self-designed service project in a Minnesota community, $400 in project funds, and a senior-year scholarship once the project is finished. Macalester's page does not list the junior and senior scholarship amounts, so ask the Community Engagement Center for current figures.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Upper-division students with strong academics, a clear track record of community engagement, and a well-developed project to address unmet needs in Minnesota communities.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Davis Projects for Peace
📅 Deadline: Campus deadline typically in late fall for projects to be carried out the following summer. Non-Renewable
$10,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Typically one Macalester project forwarded and funded per year, subject to national selection. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Provides one-time summer project funding that stacks with existing aid; does not change Macalester tuition scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a grassroots peace project proposal through Macalester’s campus process; if selected as the campus nominee, application is forwarded to the national Davis Projects for Peace competition.
Selection criteria: Competitive national rubric emphasizing feasibility, creativity, sustainability, and contribution to peacebuilding.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
National initiative open to students at Davis United World College Scholars Program partner schools; projects selected for funding receive $10,000 each.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Undergraduates who design strong grassroots peace projects with clear plans, community partnerships, and potential for meaningful impact, selected first by Macalester and then in a national competition.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Action Fund
📅 Deadline: Rolling review; typical deadlines Oct 15 (fall) and Feb 15 (spring) Non-Renewable
$2,500
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Provides one-time project funding that stacks on top of existing financial aid and is tied to specific community engagement projects rather than tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a project proposal through the Community Engagement Center detailing an off-campus civic engagement project developed in collaboration with a local community-based organization.
Selection criteria: Reviewed based on community partnership, feasibility, impact on unmet needs, and integration of action and reflective learning.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Supports off-campus community engagement projects; award amounts up to $2,500 per project; projects must include both action and learning/education components.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who propose feasible, community-partnered projects that meet unmet needs in Twin Cities communities and demonstrate clear action and learning components.
Data last verified Oct 14, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlymilitary
Yellow Ribbon Program (Macalester Match)
📅 Deadline: Submit your VA Certificate of Eligibility to the Financial Aid Office before benefits disburse ✓ Renews
$12,500/yr
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Post-9/11 GI Bill eligible students only
🎓 All Undergrad
💡
Strategic Detail
For students using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. The GI Bill covers private-college tuition and fees up to a national cap ($30,908.34 for 2026-27). Macalester commits up to $12,500 toward what is left, and the VA matches it. One catch: under Macalester's policy, a student's merit scholarship is counted as part of Macalester's Yellow Ribbon share, so the two do not stack. Because GI Bill money usually covers fall first, most Yellow Ribbon dollars land on the spring bill.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Veterans and eligible dependents with Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits whose Macalester tuition and fees exceed the GI Bill cap.
Data last verified Oct 14, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
What is the DeWitt Wallace Distinguished Scholarship?
It is Macalester’s behind-the-scenes backup for National Merit Finalists. If your student’s corporate or national National Merit award is less than $2,000 a year, or only lasts one year, Macalester uses this scholarship to bring them to $2,000 a year. There is nothing to apply for; just name Macalester as first choice with National Merit.
How does the Phillips Scholarship work?
Six sophomores are chosen each year from across Minnesota’s private colleges. Winners design a community service project, get $4,000 plus $400 in project funds to run it over the summer, and receive scholarships in junior and senior year. Macalester does not list the scholarship amounts on its page, so ask the Community Engagement Center for current numbers.
Who can apply for Davis Projects for Peace?
Macalester students can propose a grassroots peace project. Macalester picks its campus nominee, then the project competes nationally for $10,000 in funding. The campus deadline usually falls in late fall for projects done the following summer.
When are Action Fund deadlines?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with typical deadlines of October 15 for fall and February 15 for spring. Projects must partner with a Twin Cities community organization and include a learning piece, not just the action.
Does Macalester take part in the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Yes. For Post-9/11 GI Bill students, Macalester puts in up to $12,500 toward tuition the GI Bill does not cover, and the VA matches it. Your student’s merit scholarship is counted as part of Macalester’s share, so it does not stack on top.
Macalester does not have an Honors College or a separate honors scholarship track. That is pretty common at small liberal arts colleges, and here is why it matters less than you might think: with about 2,000 students, a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and an average class size of 16, every student already gets the small classes and close faculty attention that big universities save for their honors programs.
No separate honors application: your student’s admission application covers everything, including merit.
No honors-only scholarships: Macalester’s top merit awards go to standout applicants through the regular admission review.
Where strong students stand out: research, internships, and national fellowships. 73% of recent grads did an internship or research, and Macalester earned 73 Fulbright grants over the last 10 years.
Honors Scholarships & Fellowships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
Parent Tip: If your student is comparing Macalester to a big university’s honors college, compare the bottom line, not the label. Mac’s merit average was $19,195 in 2025–26, and families earning $100K or less get full tuition through the Tuition Promise.
Honors FAQs (Macalester College)
Does Macalester have an Honors College?
No. There is no separate Honors College or honors admission.
Are there honors scholarships at Macalester?
Not as a separate category. The strongest applicants are recognized through Macalester’s merit scholarships, which are awarded at admission.
Will my high-achieving student be challenged without an honors program?
Small classes, a 10:1 ratio, and strong research and fellowship opportunities give motivated students plenty of room to push themselves.
Macalester is a small liberal arts college sitting right in the middle of St. Paul, which gives students something most small colleges cannot: a leafy campus with a whole metro area at the door. It is best known for its global outlook. About a quarter of students are international, coming from 107 countries, and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is one of its most famous graduates.
Nationally Known For: International Studies and Global Citizenship. Mac’s Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship and its huge international population make it a natural fit for students drawn to world affairs, policy, and public service. Macalester ranks third among small schools for producing Peace Corps volunteers.
Economics: The most popular major on campus, with a strong quantitative bent.
Computer Science: One of Mac’s top five majors and a big draw for students who want tech skills with a liberal arts foundation.
Political Science: A top-five major that pairs naturally with internships in the Twin Cities and at the Minnesota State Capitol nearby.
Biology and Psychology: Both are among Mac’s five most popular majors and common pre-health paths.
Environmental Studies: A strong interdisciplinary option that fits Mac’s civic-minded culture.
Real-world experience: 73% of recent grads did an internship or research, and students log more than 75,000 hours of community engagement a year.
🔗 Official Macalester College Links
These are Macalester’s own pages for admissions, scholarships, costs, and aid. Use them to double-check deadlines and award details before your student hits submit.
Here is the big picture on Macalester. The sticker price is scary, but this is a school built to make that number irrelevant for a lot of families. If you earn $100,000 or less, tuition is covered. If you earn more, Mac still meets your full demonstrated need, and about half of students get merit on top of that, averaging over $19,000 a year.
The trick is that Mac does not play the scholarship game the way big universities do. There are no score charts, no scholarship weekends, and no second chances once decisions go out. The admission application is the scholarship application, so put the energy there, file the aid forms on time, and if Early Decision is on the table, get the Early Financial Aid Assessment before you commit. For a globally minded kid who wants a small college with a city at its doorstep, Macalester can end up costing a lot less than the brochure suggests.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site so other parents can get straight answers without a paywall or a sales pitch. More about Leo →
Was this helpful? Share it with another parent who’s comparing college costs!
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
