Lake Forest College vs. Bennington

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL with Bennington College in Bennington, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lake Forest College is larger than Bennington based on total student enrollment (1,837 students vs. 927 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Bennington College is in Bennington, VT (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bennington College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Forest College 13:1; Bennington College 9:1.

Lake Forest College vs. Bennington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or Bennington? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lake Forest College than Bennington ($31,225 vs. $34,220).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 33.5% lower than at Bennington College ($12,700 vs. $19,108).
• Bennington College is 17.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lake Forest College (about $9,860 more per year; $66,262.00 vs. $56,402.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.5% higher at Bennington than at Lake Forest College (about $9,860 more per year; $66,262.00 vs. $56,402.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Lake Forest College as at Bennington College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bennington College students is 33.9% larger than aid received by Lake Forest College students ($53,064 vs. $39,630).

Lake Forest College vs. Bennington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or Bennington? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bennington and Lake Forest College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bennington College (1350) is 60 points higher than at Lake Forest College (1290).
• Incoming Bennington students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Lake Forest College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 1190/1393; Bennington College 1291/1403.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 28/32; Bennington College 30/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Forest College - Test optional; Bennington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027; Bennington Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Lake Forest College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Bennington (3.51).
• Lake Forest College has a higher acceptance rate (56.8%) than Bennington (44.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at Lake Forest College vs. 11.5% at Bennington.

Lake Forest College vs. Bennington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Forest College and Bennington? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Lake Forest College's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Bennington College's (67%).
• Graduates from Lake Forest College earn a median of about $22,100 more per year than Bennington graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,800 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bennington College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Bennington graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lake Forest College graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bennington students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 77%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.