Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
Macalester College reports a middle 50% SAT of 1350 to 1480 (enrolled, fall 2025 CDS 2025-26). We use 1420 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1350 to 1480 (enrolled, fall 2025 CDS 2025-26) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 30 to 33 |
| Acceptance rate | Not reported in the cited source. |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Test optional for 2026-27 |
| Type | Private university |
Source: Macalester official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
Only 30% of enrolled students submitted an SAT score and 28% submitted an ACT score; most Macalester students send neither.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Carleton College | 1460 to 1530 | 21.8% |
| University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 1350 to 1490 | 79.7% |
| Macalester College | 1350 to 1480 | Not reported |
| St. Olaf College | 1320 to 1440 | Not reported |
| University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) | 1170 to 1360 | Not reported |
| University of Minnesota Duluth | 1180 to 1340 | 89.1% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Minnesota Colleges.
Minnesota has no statewide SAT or ACT cutoff scholarship; the state's primary aid program, the Minnesota State Grant, is strictly need-based with no test score component, so score-tied money in Minnesota comes from individual universities' own automatic merit grids.
Winona State Outstanding Academic Honors Award: $3,500 per year for up to 8 consecutive semesters; requires top 5% class rank or a 3.90 GPA, plus a 32 ACT or 1420 SAT.
Winona State President's Honor Scholarship (top tier): $2,500 per year, renewable with a 3.50 cumulative GPA; requires top 5% class rank and a 3.90 GPA, plus a 28 ACT or 1260 SAT.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Minnesota SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| University of Washington (Seattle) | Washington | 1333 to 1500 |
| Fordham University | New York | 1355 to 1470 |
| Rutgers University-Newark (Newark College of Arts and Sciences) | New Jersey | 1320 to 1500 |
| Hillsdale College | Michigan | 1340 to 1470 |
A score that is competitive at Macalester lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Minnesota colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1350 to 1480. A score at or above 1480 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1350 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Yes. Macalester lists its policy as: Test optional for 2026-27. A score inside or above the range can still strengthen an application, and some scholarships and programs use scores separately.
The cited source does not report one. Use the SAT range and the school's published requirements instead.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for Macalester? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
Book the free Strategy Session. You leave with your teen's target score, their gap, and a 6 to 12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.
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