Lake Forest College vs. Caldwell University

Should I go to Lake Forest College or Caldwell University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lake Forest College or Caldwell University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Lake Forest College vs. Caldwell University comparison
Lake Forest College Caldwell University College 3 College 4
Lake Forest College
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Overview

Lake Forest College Caldwell University
Location Lake Forest, IL Caldwell, NJ
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,753 2,028
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #267 #505
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lakeforest.edu caldwell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lake Forest College Caldwell University
Tuition (In State) $52,000 $35,950
Tuition (Out of State) $52,000 $35,950
Room & Board $11,898 $13,399
Avg Net Price $27,839 $20,612
Avg Grant Aid $37,907 $30,231
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Lake Forest College Caldwell University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,665 6,649
Admitted 2,786 4,413
Acceptance Rate 59.7% 66.4%
Enrolled % 16% 10.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 26/31 20/26
SAT Range 1153/1340 1010/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2025

Academics

Lake Forest College Caldwell University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (19%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)

Outcomes

Lake Forest College Caldwell University
Graduation Rate 68% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,800 $46,800
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,750
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

Lake Forest College Caldwell University
% Men 41% 34%
% Women 59% 66%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 39%
% Black 7% 15%
% Hispanic 17% 18%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 8% 6%
% Unknown Race 3% 18%

Students

Lake Forest College Caldwell University
% In-State 48% 71%
% Out-of-State 52% 7%

Campus

Lake Forest College Caldwell University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Caldwell University is larger than than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (2,028 students vs. 1,753 students)

Lake Forest College vs. Caldwell University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or Caldwell University?

  • Lake Forest College is 44.6% more expensive to attend than Caldwell University for in-state tuition ($52,000.00 vs. $35,950.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.6% higher at Lake Forest College than Caldwell University ($52,000.00 vs. $35,950.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Caldwell University than Lake Forest College ($20,612 vs. $27,839)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 12.6% lower than costs at Caldwell University ($11,898 vs. $13,399)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College than Caldwell University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 25.4% larger than aid received Caldwell University ($37,907 vs. $30,231)

Lake Forest College vs. Caldwell University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or Caldwell University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Caldwell University or Lake Forest College .

  • Accepted freshman Lake Forest College students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Caldwell University (3.3)
  • Caldwell University has a higher acceptance rate (66.4%) than Lake Forest College (59.7%)

Lake Forest College vs. Caldwell University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lake Forest College or Caldwell University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Caldwell University and Lake Forest College.

  • The graduation rate at Lake Forest College is higher than Caldwell University (68% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Lake Forest College earn on average $7,000 more per year than Caldwell University graduates after ten years. ($53,800 vs. $46,800)
  • Caldwell University students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($25,750 vs. $27,000)
  • Caldwell University graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Forest College graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Caldwell University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/