Macalester is one of few colleges that is committed to providing a financial aid package that meets 100% of every admitted student’s demonstrated need for financial aid and offers a robust merit-based scholarship program. All non-need-based (merit) scholarships are awarded at the time of admission. Students who are awarded a merit scholarship will receive a merit scholarship award letter at the same time they receive their offer of admission. Macalester does not award additional merit scholarships after the time of admission. There is no process to request an increase in the amount of Macalester’s merit scholarships.
Macalester offers Macalester College National Merit Scholarships, which are awarded to National Merit Finalists who have designated Macalester as their first-choice college. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents. Macalester does not have an institutional deadline. Students must comply with the National Merit procedures and deadlines. A student may receive only one National Merit Scholarship, so a student who receives a National Merit Scholarship that is sponsored by a corporation or by National Merit Scholarship Corporation will not receive a Macalester-sponsored National Merit Scholarship.