Lake Forest College vs. Earlham

Comparable Facts

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

Lake Forest College is larger than Earlham based on total student enrollment (1,837 students vs. 753 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Earlham College is in Richmond, IN (Distant Town setting).
• Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Earlham College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Forest College 13:1; Earlham College 7:1.

Lake Forest College vs. Earlham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or Earlham? 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 Earlham College than Lake Forest College ($27,107 vs. $31,225).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 9.2% lower than at Earlham College ($12,700 vs. $13,985).
• Lake Forest College is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Earlham (about $2,472 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $53,930.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at Lake Forest College than at Earlham College (about $2,472 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $53,930.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Lake Forest College as at Earlham College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Earlham College students is 2.5% larger than aid received by Lake Forest College students ($40,618 vs. $39,630).

Lake Forest College vs. Earlham Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lake Forest College (1290) is 90 points higher than at Earlham (1200).
• Incoming Lake Forest College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Earlham).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 1190/1393; Earlham College 1110/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 28/32; Earlham College 24/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Forest College - Test optional; Earlham - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027; Earlham Mar 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Earlham students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Lake Forest College (3.62).
• Earlham has a higher acceptance rate (73.1%) than Lake Forest College (56.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at Lake Forest College vs. 13.9% at Earlham.

Lake Forest College vs. Earlham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Forest College and Earlham? 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 Earlham College's (66%).
• Graduates from Lake Forest College earn a median of about $14,700 more per year than Earlham graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,800 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Earlham College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Earlham 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 Earlham students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

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.