Head-to-head comparison
Minnesota State University-Mankato vs Macalester College: which has better ROI?
Option A Mankato, MN
Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Net price / year
- $19,139
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,922
- Payback
- 8.9 yrs
Option B Saint Paul, MN
Macalester College
- Net price / year
- $32,149
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,878
- Payback
- 8.3 yrs
Macalester College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $128,596 in 8.3 years versus 8.9 years at Minnesota State University-Mankato, on median earnings of $63,878 vs $56,922 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Minnesota State University-Mankato | Macalester College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,139 | $32,149 |
| Total net cost | $76,556 | $128,596 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,922 | $63,878 |
| Median debt | $21,106 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 8.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $94,684 | $181,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Minnesota State University-Mankato or Macalester College?
Minnesota State University-Mankato, at $19,139 a year after aid versus $32,149 — a gap of $13,010 a year, or $52,040 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Minnesota State University-Mankato or Macalester College graduates earn more?
Macalester College graduates report a median $63,878 ten years after entry, $6,956 more than the $56,922 at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Minnesota State University-Mankato or Macalester College?
Minnesota State University-Mankato: its completers carry a median $21,106 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Macalester College, a difference of $1,894. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
87% of students finish at Macalester College, against 54% at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.