Lake Forest College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Lake Forest, Illinois. It enrolls 1,813 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
70/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes85
Value26
Affordability34
Selectivity81
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 56.8%, Lake Forest College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
56.8%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1190 – 1393
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
28 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Lake Forest College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lake Forest College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $28,673 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$28,673
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
67%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$56,402
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,700
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,700
Books & Supplies
$1,350
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,048
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,048
Total Cost of Attendance
$70,655
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$19,605
$30,001 – $48,000
$20,210
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,481
$75,001 – $110,000
$26,055
Over $110,000
$35,341
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$14,50025%percentile
$26,158Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$40,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $21,500
↓ $4,658
No Pell $21,500
↓ $4,658
Dependent students $21,500
↓ $4,658
Independent students $16,500
↓ $9,658
Female students $22,750
↓ $3,408
Male students $19,687
↓ $6,471
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($26,158), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
77% of full-time students who enrolled at Lake Forest College graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
77%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
88%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lake Forest College earn a median of $61,825 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$61,825
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$51,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$56,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$54,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$56,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,700, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lake Forest College is home to 1,813 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,813
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
25%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 46.9%850
International 19.8%358
Hispanic 18.1%328
Asian 6.2%113
Other 3.8%68
Black 2.6%47
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lake Forest College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbLake Forest, Illinois
Housing
Strongly residential1,335 beds for 1,813 students
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Lake Forest College offers
a varied set of programs:
34 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Forest College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$203M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$80,421
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
112 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
27
24%
$104,091
Associate Professors
35
31%
$83,770
Assistant Professors
42
38%
$64,835
Instructors
7
6%
$69,532
Lecturers
1
1%
$55,000
Pros & Cons of Lake Forest College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lake Forest College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
High published cost of attendance before aid
Most students take on federal loans
Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Forest College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lake Forest College.
Is Lake Forest College hard to get into?
Admissions at Lake Forest College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 56.8%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Lake Forest College?
Lake Forest College has an acceptance rate of 56.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Lake Forest College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Lake Forest College scored between 1190 and 1393 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Lake Forest College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Lake Forest College scored between 28 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Lake Forest College cost?
The average net price after aid at Lake Forest College is $28,673 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lake Forest College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $61,825 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,673 per year. That's roughly 2.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lake Forest College known for?
Lake Forest College is best known for its programs in Experimental Psychology, Business, Finance. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lake Forest College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lake Forest College are $61,825, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lake Forest College accredited?
Yes. Lake Forest College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Lake Forest College?
Lake Forest College enrolls 1,813 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lake Forest College?
Lake Forest College graduates 77% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lake Forest College a public or private college?
Lake Forest College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Lake Forest College located?
Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, Illinois.
What programs does Lake Forest College offer?
Lake Forest College offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Experimental Psychology, Business, Finance.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Forest College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Forest College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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Completion
College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature Lake Forest College
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