Lake Forest College vs. BC

Comparable Facts

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

Lake Forest College is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (1,837 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Forest College 13:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

Lake Forest College vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or BC? 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 Bridgewater College than Lake Forest College ($11,316 vs. $31,225).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 14.5% lower than at Bridgewater College ($12,700 vs. $14,850).
• Lake Forest College is 250.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than BC (about $40,312 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $16,090.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 250.5% higher at Lake Forest College than at Bridgewater College (about $40,312 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $16,090.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Lake Forest College as at Bridgewater College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 19.3% larger than aid received by Lake Forest College students ($47,288 vs. $39,630).

Lake Forest College vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or BC? 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 BC and Lake Forest College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lake Forest College (1290) is 100 points higher than at BC (1190).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 1190/1393; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Forest College - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027; BC May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Lake Forest College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at BC (3.61).
• BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than Lake Forest College (56.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at Lake Forest College vs. 10.1% at BC.

Lake Forest College vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Forest College and BC? 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 Bridgewater College's (59%).
• Graduates from Lake Forest College earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,800 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bridgewater College and Lake Forest College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Bridgewater College and Lake Forest College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BC 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.