Franklin and Marshall College (FandM) vs Macalester College
Franklin and Marshall College and Macalester College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Franklin and Marshall, located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, boasts a lower acceptance rate (38%) compared to Macalester's 48% in Saint Paul, Minnesota. While Franklin and Marshall's student body is predominantly White (68%), Macalester's student body is more diverse, with 48% White, 15% Asian, 11% Hispanic, and 10% Black students. Both colleges offer a wide range of popular majors, including Economics, Political Science, and Psychology, but Franklin and Marshall has a higher graduation rate (88%) than Macalester (83%). Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Franklin and Marshall College |
![]() Macalester College |
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Overview |
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Location | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 37.5% | 31.3% |
Application fees | $60 | $40 |
SAT range | N/A | 1340 - 1515 |
ACT range | N/A | 29 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 7,720 | 9,046 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,898 | 2,828 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 510 | 601 |
Yield rate | 17.6% | 21.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $80,618 | $76,357 |
Average net price | $26,316 | $30,939 |
Tuition | $63,216 | $60,288 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,722
Meal plan:
$6,018
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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) |
62.0%
Average amount $50,026 |
87.0%
Average amount $42,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
53.0%
Average amount $4,947 |
39.0%
Average amount $4,799 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $16,505 |
29.0%
Average amount $4,321 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,145
Men 44.2% Women 55.8% |
2,244
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 18.2% | 13.5% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,272 | 1,332 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 82.8% | 89.7% |
Dropout rate | 2.0% | 10.0% |
Transferred out | 13.8% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (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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