Macalester College

Saint Paul, MN · founded 1874 · 2,200 students · liberal arts college · MIAC (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)

Known for: A highly selective liberal arts college celebrated for its strong commitment to internationalism, multiculturalism, and civic engagement, as well as its rigorous academics in a progressive environment.

Rankings

U.S. News liberal arts: #27
Forbes: #86

Top programmes

International Studies
Political Science
Economics
Biology
Geography
Mathematics

Notable alumni

Kofi Annan — Former Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Walter Mondale — 42nd Vice President of the United States
Tim O'Brien — Acclaimed author of 'The Things They Carried'
DeRay Mckesson — Civil rights activist and prominent figure in the Black Lives Matter movement
Peter Tufo — Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary
Michele Norris — Award-winning journalist and former host of NPR's 'All Things Considered'
Danai Gurira — Actress and playwright known for 'The Walking Dead' and 'Black Panther'

Traditions

International Roundtable
Scotcheroo (student talent show)
Bagpipers leading commencement
The 'Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship' events

If Macalester College were…

As a food: Ethiopian injera platter with berbere lentils — Complex, globally-sourced, communal eating experience that requires engagement and conversation. The international flavor profile and shared-plate ethos mirror Mac's cosmopolitan student body and collaborative activist c
As an athlete: Megan Rapinoe — Outspoken, politically fearless, internationally recognized, and unapologetically progressive. Rapinoe's combination of elite skill and social justice activism perfectly captures Macalester's blend of academic rigor and
As a person alive today: Greta Thunberg — Young, internationally-minded, uncompromising on climate and social issues, and comfortable making powerful people uncomfortable. Thunberg embodies the earnest global activism and moral clarity that defines the Mac stude
As a historical figure: Dag Hammarskjöld — Swedish UN Secretary-General who combined intellectual sophistication with internationalist idealism and died pursuing peace. His cosmopolitan diplomacy and principled multilateralism are the historical template for Mac'
As a movie or TV show: The West Wing — Idealistic, policy-wonk dialogue delivered by people who believe government and international institutions can change the world for the better. Fast-talking liberal intellectuals debating the finer points of humanitarian
As a US president: Jimmy Carter — Deeply principled, internationally focused, human-rights-oriented, and more comfortable building houses for Habitat than glad-handing donors. Carter's post-presidency global humanitarian work and earnest moralism mirror
As a city: Amsterdam — Progressive, internationally-minded, bike-friendly, compact, and filled with earnest conversations about global justice over fair-trade coffee. Liberal social values meet practical civic engagement in a place that punche
As an element: Cesium — Highly reactive alkali metal that ignites spontaneously in air and explodes on contact with water. Macalester students are similarly quick to mobilize, politically combustible, and prone to energetic reactions when encou
As a car: Subaru Outback (third generation) — Internationally minded, practical, and NPR-approved—Macalester combines global citizenship with Midwestern earnestness and a student body that debates UN resolutions over fair-trade coffee. It's the car of choice for gra

Campus life

Macalester fosters a close, intellectually curious, and globally-minded community. Social life is centered on campus events, student organizations, and engagement with the Twin Cities. The atmosphere is politically and socially conscious, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and service.