Whittier College vs Macalester College
Whittier College and Macalester College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Whittier College, nestled in Southern California, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on community engagement. Macalester College, located in the vibrant city of Saint Paul, Minnesota, is known for its rigorous academics and global perspective. With acceptance rates of 68% and 29%, respectively, these colleges cater to students with varying academic backgrounds. While Whittier College excels in majors like Business Administration and Psychology, Macalester College shines in fields such as Economics and Political Science. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these institutions, including student demographics, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your college decision.
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![]() Macalester College |
![]() Whittier College |
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Overview |
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Location | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Whittier, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 96.0% | 82.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 31.3% | 82.5% |
Application fees | $40 |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$70
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SAT range | 1340 - 1515 | 1120 - 1340 |
ACT range | 29 - 33 | 23 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 11.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | 9.0% |
Total number of applicants | 9,046 | 2,884 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,828 | 2,379 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 601 | 277 |
Yield rate | 21.3% | 11.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | 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 | $61,014 |
Average net price | $30,939 | $22,091 |
Tuition | $60,288 | $48,924 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,272
Meal plan:
$6,270
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Room/dormitory:
$8,216
Meal plan:
$6,756
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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 |
97.0%
Average amount $32,645 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
39.0%
Average amount $4,799 |
65.0%
Average amount $5,040 |
Students taking out private loans |
29.0%
Average amount $4,321 |
6.0%
Average amount $17,379 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,244
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
1,325
Men 43.7% Women 56.3% |
Graduate students | N/A |
62
Men 25.8% Women 74.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 13.5% | 6.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,332 | 849 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
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 | 10:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 89.7% | 63.6% |
Dropout rate | 10.0% | 3.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 31.9% |
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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Law (First Professional Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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