Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Macalester College

A $29,487 starting salary from a highly selective liberal arts college—where average SAT scores exceed 1400—falls below what in-state students earn from the University of Minnesota's writing program by nearly $9,000. Macalester's writing graduates actually rank in just the 40th percentile among Minnesota's 16 programs offering this degree, landing closer to Hamline's outcomes than to the state's top performers at Metropolitan State or the flagship U of M campus. While Macalester keeps debt manageable at $20,000 (versus $23,688 statewide), that advantage doesn't offset the earnings gap when students could achieve 30% higher starting salaries elsewhere in the Twin Cities.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 technically looks workable, but that first-year salary presents real financial constraints for Minneapolis-Saint Paul living costs. What's particularly puzzling here is the disconnect between Macalester's selectivity (28% admission rate) and these middling outcomes for writing majors. Parents should note the small sample size—under 30 graduates—which could mean these numbers fluctuate significantly year to year.

For families paying private college tuition, the earnings data suggests exploring whether Minnesota's public options might deliver better returns for writing students. If your child is set on Macalester's intimate liberal arts experience, recognize that this program's career outcomes lag behind what the state's flagship university produces in the same field.