Lake Forest College vs. Calvin College

Should I go to Lake Forest College or Calvin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lake Forest College or Calvin College 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. Calvin College comparison
Lake Forest College Calvin College College 3 College 4
Lake Forest College Calvin College
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Overview

Lake Forest College Calvin College
Location Lake Forest, IL Grand Rapids, MI
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 1,753 3,231
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #267 #284
Religious Affiliation - Christian Reformed Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lakeforest.edu calvin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lake Forest College Calvin College
Tuition (In State) $52,000 $38,370
Tuition (Out of State) $52,000 $38,370
Room & Board $11,898 $11,150
Avg Net Price $27,839 $25,775
Avg Grant Aid $37,907 $26,448
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Lake Forest College Calvin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,665 4,079
Admitted 2,786 3,027
Acceptance Rate 59.7% 74.2%
Enrolled % 16% 20.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.84
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 26/31 25/30
SAT Range 1153/1340 1120/1370
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 Calvin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Lake Forest College Calvin College
Graduation Rate 68% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,800 $47,000
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,449
Median Loan Payment $279 $273

Diversity

Lake Forest College Calvin College
% Men 41% 46%
% Women 59% 54%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 74%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 17% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 8% 10%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Lake Forest College Calvin College
% In-State 48% 51%
% Out-of-State 52% 33%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Calvin College is larger than than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (3,231 students vs. 1,753 students)

Lake Forest College vs. Calvin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or Calvin College?

  • Lake Forest College is 35.5% more expensive to attend than Calvin College for in-state tuition ($52,000.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35.5% higher at Lake Forest College than Calvin College ($52,000.00 vs. $38,370.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Calvin College than Lake Forest College ($25,775 vs. $27,839)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Calvin College are 6.7% lower than costs at Lake Forest College ($11,150 vs. $11,898)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College as Calvin College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 43.3% larger than aid received Calvin College ($37,907 vs. $26,448)

Lake Forest College vs. Calvin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Calvin College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Lake Forest College (3.62)
  • Calvin College has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Lake Forest College (59.7%)

Lake Forest College vs. Calvin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lake Forest College or Calvin College? 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 Calvin College and Lake Forest College.

  • The graduation rate at Calvin College is higher than Lake Forest College (77% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Lake Forest College earn on average $6,800 more per year than Calvin College graduates after ten years. ($53,800 vs. $47,000)
  • Calvin College students graduate with a $551 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($26,449 vs. $27,000)
  • Calvin College graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Forest College graduates. ($273 vs. $279)
  • More Calvin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Forest College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 78%)

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