Financial Aid Office

Office Hours

Our summer hours are as follows:

Monday – Thursday: 8am – noon and 1pm – 4:30pm Central time
Friday: 8am – 12:30pm Central time

Fall Semester Billing

The Student Accounts Office produces fall semester billing statements in mid-July with payment due in mid-August. All statements are produced electronically. Please review our frequently asked questions about billing and financial aid.

To receive a more accurate billing statement, and to help you pay your bill on time, please complete any outstanding financial aid items as soon as possible. You can find a list of any outstanding financial aid items or documents in the Money Matters tab of 1600grand. If we have not awarded your financial aid yet, we will still do so as soon as you complete any outstanding items.

Please also remember to accept or decline any student loans you have been offered on 1600grand. First-time borrowers of Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans must log in to studentaid.gov and complete two additional steps: Entrance Counseling (a guide to understanding the loans) and a Master Promissory Note (your official agreement to repay the loans). Other types of loans have different application steps. You can visit our Loans and Financing page to read about the requirements for each loan you accept.

Prospective Students

Please review the financial aid application requirements and filing dates on our Apply for Aid page. We ask U.S. students to complete the CSS Profile and the FAFSA and provide tax documents. International students can complete the CSS Profile or the International Student Application for Financial Assistance. Students who complete their financial aid application by the specified filing date for their admission round will receive financial aid results shortly after notices of admission.

We encourage students to estimate their aid eligibility by using MyinTuition or our Net Price Calculator. Both of these estimating tools offer families an idea of what it might cost to attend Macalester. Please contact us with questions about any aspect of the financial aid process.

Communication From Our Office

In an effort to conserve resources, we will limit the number of paper financial aid eligibility notifications sent from our office. Students will receive initial eligibility notifications in the mail and electronically. Subsequent notifications will be electronic only. Paper notifications are sent to the permanent address on file with the Registrar.

If you would prefer to receive paper notifications (sent to your SPO during the academic year), please send an email to [email protected].

2022-2023 Key Facts and Figures

63% of students receive need-based financial aid

Average need-based financial aid package: $57,801

The average financial aid package includes the following:

Grants/scholarships: 86%
Loans: 9%
Student Employment: 5%

Merit Scholarship Opportunities

More than half of Macalester students are recipients of a merit-based scholarship (many of those students also receive need-based financial aid). All applicants for admission are considered for Macalester’s merit scholarships; no additional scholarship application is required. Merit scholarship awards range from $8,000 to $100,000 over four years. More information about Macalester’s Merit Scholarships.