Macalester College

Macalester College was founded by Edward Duffield Neill in 1874 with help from the Presbyterian Church in Minnesota. Neill had served as a chaplain in the American Civil War and traveled to Minnesota Territory in 1849. He became connected politically and socially. 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. 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 members of other Christian churches.

The college's original name was Baldwin College and it was affiliated with the Baldwin School, a Presbyterian secondary school. After a large donation from Charles Macalester, a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Philadelphia, the institution was renamed Macalester College. Macalester donated a hotel, the Winslow House, as the first permanent classroom building. 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.

James Wallace joined the faculty in 1887 and later became president. He helped stabilize the college's finances and advance the institution. During his tenure, Macalester created a focus on a liberal arts curriculum. In 1897, Nellie A. Hope was the first woman appointed to the institution's newly organized music department.

During World War II, Japanese American students in concentration camps were invited to study at Macalester.

In 2008, Macalester publicly launched a $150 million capital campaign. In 2009, construction was completed on Markim Hall, a new home for the Institute for Global Citizenship named after Macalester graduate and former U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan. The building qualified for Platinum certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system, a building rating system devised by the U.S. Green Building Council that evaluates structures' sustainability and environmental impact. In 2012, Macalester opened its renovated and expanded Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, adding a new concert hall, practice rooms, and expanded facilities for the arts.

In 2020, Suzanne Rivera became the college's 17th president; she is the first woman and first Hispanic person to serve in the role. That year, the college also marked the conclusion of its "Macalester Moment" campaign, which raised more than $126 million in endowed funds, planned gifts, and current-use support.

In 2024, the college announced a new mascot, a Highland Cow named Coo, to replace the Macalester Scot mascot. Students were able to vote on the new mascot.

In September 2025, Macalester announced the Macalester Tuition Promise financial aid initiative. Beginning with students applying to start their studies at Macalester in fall 2026, the college will offer a full-tuition scholarship to all admitted US students with a family income of $100,000 or less (and typical financial assets).

In 2024, as part of Macalester's 150th anniversary celebration and in response to strategic planning goals, the college released a new logo, mascot, and branding concept heavily influencing its athletics presence. After an intensive community engagement process, the college selected the Highland Cow, nicknamed "Coo", as its new mascot. The athletics teams remain known as the Scots but are represented by Coo. The new mascot was part of a complete overhaul of the athletics branding, guided by a set of principles seeking to unify the community and modernize the athletics department's visual identity.