Macalester Demographics: How Diverse Is It?

Much Higher Than Average Diversity

We combine elements of racial, geographic, age and gender diversity to create a total diversity grade for every school.

Macalester College is thought to be highly diverse across all factors, and is ranked #130 nationwide.

This School is Considered Greater Than Average in Racial Diversity

Ethnically-diverse schools offer students the chance to study and learn from undergraduates from racial and ethnic groups that are unique from their own.

Macalester College is ranked #1,556 in ethnic diversity nationwide with a student body composition that is above the national average.

Macalester ranks above average in racial diversity.

The racial diversity of the faculty is above average.

Comparable to National Averages When it Comes to Balance of Male and Female Students

This may not be the best choice if you're seeking equal numbers of men and women.

At Macalester College, the disparity between men and women on campus is on par with the national average. The undergraduate student body at Macalester is equally balanced.

This college is ranked at #1,594 in male to female diversity nationwide. The undergraduate population is comprised of 879 males and 1,295 females.

The disparity between the counts of men and women at Macalester College is on par with the national average.

The ratio of male to female faculty at Macalester is excellent.

Campus Filled with Students From All Over the U.S.

Looking to attend a school where you can meet students from all over the United States and the world?

We've calculated the geographic diversity of each school by looking at where students lived before they came to this school.

About 22.0% of the students attending Macalester College come from within Minnesota. This puts Macalester's level of geographic diversity well above the national average and gives it a national geographic diversity ranking of #52.

What is the Age of Everyone at This School?

Would you prefer a school where the student body represents a mix of different ages and generations, or would you rather have a school where most students are the same age as you?

The "traditional" college student is thought to be between the ages of 18-21. At Macalester College, 90.5% of students are in the age 18 to 21 bracket, compared to the national average of 60%. We rank Macalester #3,993 in the nation for student age diversity.

Questions About Diversity

• What do we mean when we talk about diversity in college?

  The root word of diversity is from the Latin, "diversus" which means "various". Today we use it to describe an amalgamation of peoples, traditions, cultures and ideas. Students who state that diversity in college is important to them are looking for institutions to offer a variety of curricular and non-curricular opportunities to learn from and learn with people of different ethnicities, races, ages, abilities, sexual identities, religions, and classes.

• How is Macalester doing at attracting students from all economic backgrounds?

  Even a school with high ethnic, racial and geographic diversity may not be diverse when it comes to the income levels of their students. To get a better idea of how Macalester is supporting low-income students check the Financial Aid Page.

• Is Diversity Important to Macalester?

  Diversity can be promoted by the college in multiple ways. For one, institutions should be making an effort to hire a diverse faculty to teach students. But the school should also be doing the best they can to promote meaningful connections between people from differing backgrounds. This prevents students and faculty from becoming isolated and encourages positive connections.