Lake Forest College vs. Hope College

Comparable Facts

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

Hope College is larger than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (3,395 students vs. 1,837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Hope College is in Holland, MI (Small City setting).
• Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hope College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Forest College 13:1; Hope College 9:1.

Lake Forest College vs. Hope College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or Hope College? 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 Hope College than Lake Forest College ($30,700 vs. $31,225).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 1.9% lower than at Hope College ($12,700 vs. $12,950).
• Lake Forest College is 34.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hope College (about $14,432 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $41,970.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.4% higher at Lake Forest College than at Hope College (about $14,432 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $41,970.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Forest College than at Hope College (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 58.9% larger than aid received by Hope College students ($39,630 vs. $24,945).

Lake Forest College vs. Hope College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lake Forest College (1290) is 70 points higher than at Hope College (1220).
• Incoming Lake Forest College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Hope College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 1190/1393; Hope College 1100/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 28/32; Hope College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Forest College - Test optional; Hope College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Hope College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Lake Forest College (3.62).
• Hope College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than Lake Forest College (56.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at Lake Forest College vs. 20.1% at Hope College.

Lake Forest College vs. Hope College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Forest College and Hope College? 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).

• Hope College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Lake Forest College's (68%).
• Graduates from Lake Forest College earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than Hope College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,800 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hope College and Lake Forest College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Hope College and Lake Forest College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Hope College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Forest College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 78%)

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.