Knox College vs Macalester College
Knox College and Macalester College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Knox, nestled in Galesburg, Illinois, boasts a 68% acceptance rate, while Macalester, located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, has a more selective admissions process with a 38% acceptance rate. Knox students predominantly pursue majors in the social sciences, biological sciences, and arts, while Macalester students often choose majors in the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. Both colleges foster diverse student bodies, with Knox's student population comprising 44% students of color and Macalester's student body consisting of 48% students of color. Knox graduates enjoy a 79% placement rate within six months of graduation, and Macalester graduates achieve an impressive 93% placement rate within the same timeframe. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional colleges and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences
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![]() Knox College |
![]() Macalester College |
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Overview |
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Location | Galesburg, Illinois | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 83.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 70.2% | 31.3% |
Application fees | $40 | |
SAT range | 1150 - 1380 | 1340 - 1515 |
ACT range | 24 - 31 | 29 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 41.0% | 35.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | 39.0% |
Total number of applicants | 3,061 | 9,046 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,150 | 2,828 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 270 | 601 |
Yield rate | 12.6% | 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) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $63,997 | $76,357 |
Average net price | $25,476 | $30,939 |
Tuition | $50,784 | $60,288 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,040
Meal plan:
$5,181
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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) |
100.0%
Average amount $36,738 |
87.0%
Average amount $42,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
67.0%
Average amount $6,454 |
39.0%
Average amount $4,799 |
Students taking out private loans |
8.0%
Average amount $15,133 |
29.0%
Average amount $4,321 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,156
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
2,244
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 59.7% | N/A |
International students | 15.9% | 13.5% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,156 | 1,332 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois California Missouri Indiana Texas | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 75.1% | 89.7% |
Dropout rate | 6.0% | 10.0% |
Transferred out | 18.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, 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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