Macalester College

What is the cost of studying for a year at Macalester College?

Macalester charges the same undergraduate tuition regardless of Minnesota residency. For 2024-25, reported full-time tuition was $67,874, with $230 in required fees. Tuition and mandatory fees therefore totaled $68,104 before housing, meals, and other expenses.

• 2024-25 full-time tuition: $67,874.
• 2024-25 required fees: $230.
• Reported annual room charge: $8,722.
• Reported annual board charge: $7,754.

Adding those reported charges produces $84,580 for tuition, required fees, room, and board for that reporting year. It is not a complete cost-of-attendance budget: books, transportation, personal expenses, and any applicable health-insurance costs may add to it. Room and meal charges can also depend on a student's selections. Applicants should compare costs from the same academic year rather than combine a newer tuition quote with older housing figures.

The published price is not necessarily what an aided student pays. In 2024-25 reporting, the average grant award to undergraduate recipients was $42,615. Average net price also varied by family income: it was $11,982 for students from families earning up to $48,000 and $44,880 for those from families earning more than $110,000. Those are group averages, not personalized aid offers. Eligible students may receive federal or state grants, institutional assistance, and loans; Macalester's current financial-aid instructions identify the forms and deadlines needed for an individual award. Eligible veterans may also use applicable education benefits, subject to program rules.

What are the work-study opportunities at Macalester College?

Macalester students may seek campus employment, including jobs supported by Federal Work-Study for students who qualify. Federal Work-Study is a need-based financial-aid program that supports earnings from an eligible job; it is not money automatically credited to a student's bill.

Students generally apply for positions and receive wages for hours worked. Job availability, scheduling, and eligibility matter even when work-study appears in an aid offer. Students who do not receive Federal Work-Study may still be eligible for other campus jobs. For work connected to a potential career, Macalester's career advisers can help students distinguish a paid student job from an internship and identify opportunities that fit around classes.