Macalester’s History
In 1956, President Charles Turck wrote, “Macalester experiences ought to make you a better citizen, a more loyal friend, and a more responsible member of our community than you otherwise would be.”
About Macalester
A top ranked liberal arts college
Macalester was founded in 1874 on the firm belief in the transformational power of the liberal arts education. For over one hundred and fifty years, our students and alumni have demonstrated that power as a force for positive change. Today, Macalester is recognized as a global leader among liberal arts colleges, with the highest standards for scholarship and a continuing commitment to academic rigor, internationalism, diversity, and service to society.
5
Miles from campus to downtown St. Paul
17
Ranking by U.S. News & World Report for best undergraduate teaching
2,138
Enrolled students, from 49 states and 108 countries
Heady Academics
We take learning seriously at Macalester. It’s a shared passion, learning for the sake of learning, and our goal is to do it together. We offer over 800 courses taught by faculty who are recognized nationally for their scholarship and discoveries. In fact, almost $12 million has been awarded to faculty in the last five years. What’s that mean? Great experiences for both professors and students.
Making headlines
You’ve just read an article about nuclear proliferation. The expert? A Macalester professor. Up next? A student who’s changing education in Afghanistan. Another headline: We’re a top Peace Corp producer.
Rankings
We’re pretty proud of the education and experience we offer but don’t take it from us. Here are some of the things about us renowned publications have chosen to highlight.
St. Paul and Minneapolis
Explore our location
Home to nearly 3.5 million people, St. Paul and Minneapolis are filled with green spaces, renowned theaters and museums, and quintessentially Minnesotan venues.
Why Macalester?
We’re a small liberal arts college located in two cities. The connection with our location changes how we teach, learn, and have fun.
Leadership and Administration
In it together
Our leadership style reflects the kind of leaders we want to see in the world. We aim to be transparent at all times and to take the role we play at the college seriously.
“Our strategic plan amplifies what makes Mac distinctive in an increasingly competitive marketplace. And it inspires us to keep dreaming, together, about the future we imagine.”—President Suzanne M. Rivera
