Macalester College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1874, Macalester is exclusively an undergraduate four-year institution with an enrollment of 2,174 students in the fall of 2018. The college has Scottish roots and emphasizes internationalism and multiculturalism.
The college offers 38 majors, 40 minors, and 10 concentrations. Students also have the option to design their own major. Macalester's sports teams compete in the NCAA Division III-level Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The college's 60-acre main campus is bordered by Summit Avenue to the north and St. Clair Avenue to the south. The 300-acre Ordway Field Station, a nature reserve and research station, is on the outskirts of the Twin Cities, along the Mississippi River.
History
Macalester College was founded by Rev. Dr. Edward Duffield Neill in 1874 with help from the Presbyterian Church in Minnesota. Neill had served as a chaplain in the Civil War and traveled to Minnesota Territory in 1849. He became connected politically and socially. He went on to found two local churches, was appointed the first Chancellor of the University of Minnesota, and became the state's first superintendent of public education. In leaving the University of Minnesota Board of Regents he desired to build a religious college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church that would also be open to other Christian church members.
The college's original name was Baldwin College; it was affiliated with the Baldwin School, a Presbyterian secondary school. After a large donation from Charles Macalester, a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Philadelphia, the institution was renamed Macalester College. Macalester donated a hotel, the Winslow House, as the first permanent classroom building. With additional funding from the Presbyterian Church and its trustees, Macalester College opened for courses in 1885 with five teachers, six freshmen, and 52 preparatory students.
James Wallace joined the faculty in 1887 and later became president. He helped stabilize the college's finances and advance the institution. During his tenure, Macalester created a focus on a liberal arts curriculum. In 1897, Nellie A. Hope was the first woman appointed to the institution's newly organized music department.
In 2008 Macalester publicly launched a $150 million campaign. In 2009, construction was completed on Markim Hall, a new home for the Institute for Global Citizenship. Plans called for the building to qualify for Platinum certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system, a building rating system devised by the U.S. Green Building Council that evaluates structures' sustainability and environmental impact. In 2012, Macalester opened its renovated and expanded Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center.
In 2020, Suzanne Rivera became the college's 17th president; she is the first woman and first Hispanic person to serve in the role.
Academics
Rankings
In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked Macalester the 27th-best liberal arts college in the U.S., and tied at 16th for "Most Innovative", tied at 15th for "Best Undergraduate Teaching", tied at 13th for "Study Abroad", and 17th for "Best Value" liberal arts college.
In 2019, Forbes rated it 86th out of 650 colleges, universities and service academies in the U.S., and 38th among liberal arts colleges.
In 2022, Washington Monthly ranked Macalester 16th among 215 liberal arts colleges in the U.S. based on its contribution to the public good as measured by social mobility, research, and promoting public service.
Macalester was named one of the Hidden Ivies based on academics, admissions process, financial aid, and student experience. Its most popular majors, based on 2021 graduates, were: Biology/Biological Sciences (52) Econometrics & Qualitative Economics (52) Computer & Information Sciences (34) Research & Experimental Psychology (32) Political Science & Government (31)
Admissions
Macalester is considered "most selective" by the U.S. News & World Report rankings. For the Class of 2026, Macalester received 9,622 applications and accepted 25% of applicants.
Faculty
Macalester has 188 full-time faculty, 94% of whom have a doctorate or the highest degree in their field. Twenty-nine percent of faculty are international or U.S. citizens of color. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1 and the average class size 17.