By Emily Smith

Full-time tuition for the 2007-2008 school year is $33,494.This is slightly higher than the 2004 poverty threshold for a household of eight persons, and is more than the 2000-2002-average median household incomes of Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas.

There are 69 class days this semester, or 13.8 five-day school weeks of 12 class hours each. So if you’re not on any financial aid, Macalester classes cost $1213.55 per week, which is $242.71 per day, or $101.13 per hour.

Room for the 2007-2008 school year is $4,334,or $2,167 per semester. The dorms are open 3.75 calendar months, or 16 weeks, or 112 days. So, living on campus costs $577.87 per month, which is $135.45 per week, or $19.35 per day.

Board for the 2007-2008 school year is $3,886,or $1,943 per semester. So, if you’re on the 19-, 14-, or 10-meal plan, campus costs $518.13 per month, which is $121.44 per week, or $17.35 per day.

Households in the Midwest, which consist of 2.4 people on average, spent $107.54 on food (all food, not just groceries) each week in 2004.

Sources: Macalester College Financial Aid department website, U.S. Cenus (www.census.gov)