Lawrence University vs Macalester College
Lawrence University and Macalester College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Lawrence, nestled in Appleton, Wisconsin, boasts a lower acceptance rate (19%) compared to Macalester's (34%) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. While Macalester's student body is more diverse, with international students comprising 13% of the population, Lawrence has a higher graduation rate (84%) than Macalester's (80%). Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about their popular majors, financial aid opportunities, and other factors that may influence your college decision.
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![]() Lawrence University |
![]() Macalester College |
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Overview |
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Location | Appleton, Wisconsin | 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 | Trimester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 89.0% | 96.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 75.0% | 31.3% |
Application fees | $40 | |
SAT range | 1230 - 1460 | 1340 - 1515 |
ACT range | 27 - 32 | 29 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 24.0% | 35.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 37.0% | 39.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,907 | 9,046 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,179 | 2,828 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 402 | 601 |
Yield rate | 18.4% | 21.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not 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 | $65,445 | $76,357 |
Average net price | $24,804 | $30,939 |
Tuition | $52,101 | $60,288 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,814
Meal plan:
$5,370
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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 $39,841 |
87.0%
Average amount $42,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
57.0%
Average amount $5,053 |
39.0%
Average amount $4,799 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $16,464 |
29.0%
Average amount $4,321 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,483
Men 45.8% Women 54.2% |
2,244
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 73.1% | N/A |
International students | 12.3% | 13.5% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,460 | 1,332 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Wisconsin Illinois Minnesota Texas California | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 80.5% | 89.7% |
Dropout rate | 19.0% | 10.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (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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