Macalester College vs Trinity College
Macalester College and Trinity College, two esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Macalester, located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, boasts a diverse student body with a strong international presence, while Trinity, situated in Hartford, Connecticut, is known for its rigorous academics and historic campus. With acceptance rates of 29% and 13%, respectively, both colleges are highly selective. Macalester's popular majors include political science, economics, and environmental studies, while Trinity students often pursue majors in history, English, and economics. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these institutions' graduation rates, financial aid opportunities, and other key factors that may influence your college decision.
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![]() Macalester College |
![]() Trinity College |
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Overview |
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Location | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Hartford, Connecticut |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 96.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 31.3% | 37.7% |
Application fees | $40 |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$75
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SAT range | 1340 - 1515 | 1333 - 1480 |
ACT range | 29 - 33 | 29 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 11.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | 5.0% |
Total number of applicants | 9,046 | 5,603 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,828 | 2,115 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 601 | 523 |
Yield rate | 21.3% | 24.7% |
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 | $76,357 | $79,770 |
Average net price | $30,939 | $29,789 |
Tuition | $60,288 | $58,610 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,272
Meal plan:
$6,270
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Room/dormitory:
$10,350
Meal plan:
$5,550
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
87.0%
Average amount $42,832 |
66.0%
Average amount $46,858 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
39.0%
Average amount $4,799 |
48.0%
Average amount $4,756 |
Students taking out private loans |
29.0%
Average amount $4,321 |
7.0%
Average amount $15,135 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,244
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
2,159
Men 50.8% Women 49.2% |
Graduate students | N/A |
31
Men 74.2% Women 25.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 82.8% |
International students | 13.5% | 12.6% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 1,332 | 1,999 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Mississippi Connecticut New York New Jersey Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 89.7% | 85.2% |
Dropout rate | 10.0% | 6.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | 8.8% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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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Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
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