Courses are available in the physical sciences, humanities, mathematics and computer sciences, arts, social sciences, foreign languages, classics, several interdisciplinary fields, and pre-professional programs.

Students may also design their own interdisciplinary majors. Macalester offers over 800 courses and 39 majors. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1 and the average class size 17. Twenty-nine percent of faculty are international or U.S. Macalester has 188 full-time faculty, 94% of whom have a doctorate or the highest degree in their field.

Old Main Building at Macalester College in fall. Of those admitted, the median SAT scores were 720 for critical reading and 730 for math, the median ACT score was 32, and 72% were in the top 10% of their high school class. ДЇor the Class of 2023, Macalester received 6,598 applications and accepted 31% of applicants. Macalester is considered 'most selective' by the U.S. Macalester was named one of the Hidden Iviesfor providing an education comparable to that of the Ivy League, based on academics, admissions process, financial aid, and student experience. based on its contribution to the public good as measured by social mobility, research, and promoting public service. In 2020, Washington Monthly ranked Macalester 47th among 218 liberal arts colleges in the U.S. In 2019, Forbes rated it 86th out of 650 colleges, universities and service academies in the U.S., and 38th among liberal arts colleges. News & World Report ranked Macalester the 27th best liberal arts college in the United States, and tied at 24th for 'Most Innovative', tied at 43rd for 'Best Undergraduate Teaching', and 30th for 'Best Value' national liberal arts college.

Rivera became the college's 17th president she is the first woman and first Hispanic person to serve in the role. In 2012, Macalester opened its renovated and expanded Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center. Green Building Council that evaluates structures' sustainability and environmental impact. Plans called for the building to qualify for Platinum certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system, a building rating system devised by the U.S. In 2009, construction was completed on Markim Hall, a new home for the Institute for Global Citizenship. In 2008 Macalester publicly launched a $150 million campaign. Weyerhaeuser Hall administration building During his tenure, Macalester created a focus on a liberal arts curriculum. He helped stabilize the college's finances and advance the institution.

James Wallace joined the faculty in 1887 and later became president. With additional funding from the Presbyterian Church and its trustees, Macalester College opened for courses in 1885 with five teachers, six freshmen, and 52 preparatory students. Macalester donated a hotel, the Winslow House, as the first permanent classroom building. After a large donation from Charles Macalester, a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Philadelphia, the institution was renamed Macalester College. The college's original name was Baldwin College it was affiliated with the Baldwin School, a Presbyterian secondary school. In leaving the University of Minnesota Board of Regents he desired to build a religious college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church that would also be open to other Christian church members. He went on to found two local churches, was appointed the first Chancellor of the University of Minnesota and became the state's first superintendent of public education. He became connected politically and socially. Neill had served as a chaplain in the Civil War and traveled to Minnesota Territory in 1849. Edward Duffield Neill in 1874 with help from the Presbyterian Church in Minnesota.

Best mac for college 2015