Macalester College vs Oberlin College: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Net Price

Macalester College is the more selective of the two, admitting 28.5% of applicants versus 34.0% at Oberlin College. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $14,567 per year at Macalester College versus $16,234 at Oberlin College. Admitted students post SAT middle-50% ranges of 1360–1490 at Macalester College and 1360–1530 at Oberlin College.

Macalester College vs Oberlin College: admissions and cost statistics from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard
MetricMacalester CollegeOberlin College
Overall acceptance rate28.5%34.0%
Early acceptance rate40.0%38.7%
SAT middle 50%1360–14901360–1530
Avg unweighted GPA3.853.7
Yield rate22.0%19.0%
Class size560701
Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income$14,567$16,234
Net price, over $110,000 income$48,567$50,234

Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2024–25 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard. Rows appear only where both colleges report the statistic.

Frequently asked questions

Is Macalester College harder to get into than Oberlin College?

Yes. Macalester College admits 28.5% of applicants, compared with 34.0% at Oberlin College, making it the harder school to get into, based on the most recent Common Data Set.

Which is cheaper for a middle-income family, Macalester College or Oberlin College?

For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $14,567 per year at Macalester College and $16,234 at Oberlin College, so Macalester College is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).

More comparisons

Carleton College vs Macalester CollegeKenyon College vs Macalester CollegeLafayette College vs Macalester CollegeMacalester College vs Rhodes CollegeMacalester College vs St. Olaf CollegeKenyon College vs Oberlin College

Stats compare the schools — the simulation compares you against each school's applicant pool.

Estimate your chances at Macalester College and Oberlin College