Macalester College: A Comprehensive Look at Rankings and Distinctions

Macalester College, a top-ranked liberal arts college located in the heart of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, consistently earns high marks in national rankings and receives accolades for its academic excellence, commitment to social responsibility, and diverse community. These rankings and distinctions offer prospective students and their families valuable insights into the college's strengths and unique character.

Recognition from Major Ranking Publications

Several prominent publications assess colleges and universities across the United States, each employing its own methodology and criteria. Macalester College consistently performs well in these rankings, demonstrating its commitment to providing a high-quality education and fostering a supportive learning environment.

U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report has again ranked Macalester College among the top liberal arts colleges in the nation. Their annual rankings assess various metrics, including graduation and retention rates, social mobility, and faculty resources. Macalester's performance in these areas reflects its dedication to student success and its ability to attract and retain talented faculty. Notably, U.S. News & World Report placed Macalester at #10 for undergraduate teaching.

The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review included Macalester among its Best Value Colleges. The Princeton Review ranks the top 25 colleges in 50 categories based on student surveys. Macalester also ranked #14 on its list of Top 20 Best Schools for Making an Impact (Private Schools) and #33 in its list of Top 50 Green Colleges. These rankings highlight Macalester's commitment to affordability, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability.

Niche

Niche gives annual report cards with grades for 12 indicators, including academics, student life, and diversity. Macalester College’s overall grade was an A, with an A+ for academics and A’s for diversity and location. The college is #4 on their list of Best Colleges with No Application Fee in America. These accolades reflect the college's strong academic programs, vibrant campus life, and commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive community.

Washington Monthly

Washington Monthly's annual rankings incorporate social mobility, research, and promoting public service with the goal of assessing how colleges contribute to the public good. Macalester earned a #2 ranking for service, which is evaluated on how well an institution prepares students for public service. This recognition underscores Macalester's commitment to fostering civic engagement and preparing students to make a positive impact on the world.

Other Ranking Systems

Several other ranking systems provide additional perspectives on Macalester's strengths. These include:

The College Access Index (New York Times): Ranks the nation’s most selective schools in order of economic diversity.
The Campus Pride Index: Aims to improve campus LGBTQ+ policies, programs and practices and assesses eight factors, including student life, campus safety, and support & institutional commitment.
Money: Rates colleges based on quality, affordability, and student outcomes.
Research.com: Takes into account institutions’ academic excellence, the range of degree programs, affordability, and return on investment.

Distinctions and Unique Features

Beyond its performance in traditional rankings, Macalester College boasts several distinctions and unique features that set it apart from other institutions.

Location in a Vibrant Metropolitan Area

Macalester College is one of very few selective liberal arts colleges located in the heart of a major metropolitan area. Setting Macalester apart from other liberal arts institutions, Selingo writes, is its location in St. Paul, which affords it rare urban opportunities. Being in the heart of a metropolitan area allows for over 50 courses to readily partner with organizations in the Twin Cities.

Within five blocks of Macalester, there are at least twenty restaurants, eight coffee houses, five places of worship, two bookstores, a tea shop, movie theater and stores for art supplies, flowers, bike repairs, pharmacies, and music, as well as Ace Hardware, Breadsmith, Jamba Juice, Patagonia, Whole Foods and more. Many faculty and staff live on the winding streets adjacent to campus. Minneapolis and St. Paul are also known as two of the best biking cities, with numerous scenic bike paths.

Read also: Alumni Leadership and Service

Commitment to Internationalism and Multiculturalism

Macalester students come from more than 90 countries and all 50 states. More than 60% of students study abroad for 15 weeks or more, providing time for substantial experience and learning in another culture. The United Nations flag has flown over campus since 1950, a symbol of Macalester's commitment to world peace and understanding. Students at Mac live out the college mission of academic excellence, internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society by embracing interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving.

Emphasis on Experiential Learning

The book highlights that a “remarkable 73 percent of students complete internships or research before graduation, aided by 200 internship sites within eight miles.” Example classes include Legislative Politics, where students intern as legislative aides in the nearby Minnesota State Capitol; Community Psychology and Public Health, in which students engage in off-campus shadowing opportunities; and Drama: Theater and Politics, which incorporates theatrical performances in multiple Twin Cities theaters including the world-class Guthrie Theater. Every Macalester student takes a First Year Course (FYC) in their first semester. Seminar-style FYCs are limited to 16 students and the professor is the academic advisor for each student in the class. FYCs set the stage for an academic journey based on small classes, individual attention, and collaboration.

A "Dream School" Designation

Macalester College has been named one of the nation’s top dream schools in a new book by bestselling author and college admissions expert Jeffrey Selingo. Unlike traditional rankings that often focus on prestige, Dream School highlights colleges that deliver strong career outcomes, rich experiential learning opportunities, and an inclusive sense of belonging.

Sustainable Campus Leader

Macalester College has been recognized again as a top performer in the Sustainable Campus Index, receiving a Gold rating and the #2 ranking among Baccalaureate Institutions from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

The Student Experience

Students at Macalester College get the best of both worlds-the inspiring academics of a leading liberal arts education combined with the engaging experiences of the Twin Cities. They are curious, highly motivated, serious about their academic pursuits, and supportive of each other; being more likely to work together for collective academic success than to compete. Contributing to long-lasting friendships and a sense of community, there are over 100 student organizations available. They reflect the diverse interests of our students and range in focus from art, chess, comedy, consulting, culture, dance, gaming, investing, Mac radio station, and Model United Nations, to music, politics, Quiz Bowl, religion, rocketry, slam poetry, software development, and ultimate frisbee. Macalester has 19 varsity athletic teams as well as club and intramural sports. Most varsity teams compete in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Notable Alumni

Alumni include Kofi Annan ’61 who became Secretary-General of the United Nations and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Fred Swaniker ‘99 who founded the African Leadership Academy and was named one of 2019’s 100 most influential people by Time Magazine, Tim O’Brien ’68, acclaimed author of The Things They Carried, actress and playwright Danai Gurira ’01 whose roles include Okoye in Black Panther, Avenger: Endgame and Michonne in The Walking Dead, and Walter Mondale ’50 who served as Vice President of the United States.

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