Macalester College vs St. Olaf College
Macalester College is the more selective of the two at 28%, versus 50% at St. Olaf College. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.
Macalester College vs St. Olaf College: the differences that matter
How Macalester College and St. Olaf College stack up on selectivity, scores, and what they value.
Macalester College is meaningfully harder to get into, admitting about 28% of applicants versus 50% at St. Olaf College, a gap of roughly 22 percentage points. Treat Macalester College as the bigger reach of the two when you build your list.
The two also read applications a little differently. Macalester College leans more on a similar mix of factors, while St. Olaf College puts more weight on application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.
On test scores, Macalester College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1440 and St. Olaf College's is around 1380. Admitted students at Macalester College post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.
What each school weighs
Factors either school weighs heavily, side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Is Macalester College or St. Olaf College harder to get into?
Macalester College is harder to get into, with a 28% acceptance rate versus 50% at St. Olaf College.
What's the difference in SAT scores between Macalester College and St. Olaf College?
Macalester College's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1440, and St. Olaf College's is around 1380.
What are my chances at Macalester College and St. Olaf College?
That depends on your full profile. CollegeCalcAI gives a free, personalized estimate for each school in a few minutes.