Macalester College vs Grand View University
Macalester College and Grand View University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Macalester, a private liberal arts college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 33%, while Grand View, a private Christian university in Des Moines, Iowa, maintains a more open admissions policy with an acceptance rate of 75%. Macalester's student body is predominantly made up of undergraduates, with a diverse population representing various ethnicities and backgrounds. In contrast, Grand View's student body is more evenly distributed between undergraduate and graduate programs, with a significant proportion of students pursuing degrees in nursing and business. While both institutions offer a range of academic programs, Macalester is known for its strengths in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, while Grand View excels in healthcare, education, and business. With different acceptance rates, student demographics, and academic foci, Macalester and Grand View
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![]() Grand View University |
![]() Macalester College |
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Overview |
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Location | Des Moines, Iowa | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 71.0% | 96.0% |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | Presbyterian |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 99.5% | 31.3% |
Application fees | $40 | |
SAT range | 920 - 1080 | 1340 - 1515 |
ACT range | 17 - 22 | 29 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 5.0% | 35.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 55.0% | 39.0% |
Total number of applicants | 1,765 | 9,046 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,757 | 2,828 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 291 | 601 |
Yield rate | 16.6% | 21.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not 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 | $45,832 | $76,357 |
Average net price | $20,434 | $30,939 |
Tuition | $30,224 | $60,288 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,040
Meal plan:
$4,958
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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 $21,330 |
87.0%
Average amount $42,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
70.0%
Average amount $5,236 |
39.0%
Average amount $4,799 |
Students taking out private loans |
10.0%
Average amount $12,302 |
29.0%
Average amount $4,321 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,561
Men 47.9% Women 52.1% |
2,244
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
Graduate students |
196
Men 39.3% Women 60.7% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 3.4% | 13.5% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 894 | 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 | 12:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 50.8% | 89.7% |
Dropout rate | 11.3% | 10.0% |
Transferred out | 37.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (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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