Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Iowa Michigan State Purdue Nebraska UIC Minnesota UNI Illinois ASU IU UT Dallas NDSU| Lake Forest College | Iowa State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Lake Forest College | ISU | ||
| Location | Lake Forest, IL | Ames, IA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,753 | 29,969 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #267 | #352 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lakeforest.edu | iastate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Lake Forest College | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $52,000 | $8,678 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $52,000 | $25,162 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,898 | $9,358 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,839 | $15,310 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $37,907 | $11,043 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 80% |
Admission |
Lake Forest College | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,665 | 21,919 | ||
| Admitted | 2,786 | 19,776 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 59.7% | 90.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16% | 29% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.62 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1153/1340 | 1090/1350 | ||
| 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 | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Lake Forest College | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,800 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $23,868 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $246 |
Diversity |
Lake Forest College | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 55% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 45% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 17% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 5% |
Students |
Lake Forest College | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 48% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 52% | 45% | ||
Campus |
Lake Forest College | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Iowa State University is larger than than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (29,969 students vs. 1,753 students)
Lake Forest College vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or ISU?
- Lake Forest College is 499.2% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($52,000.00 vs. $8,678.00)
- Out of state tuition is 106.7% higher at Lake Forest College than Iowa State University ($52,000.00 vs. $25,162.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than Lake Forest College ($15,310 vs. $27,839)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 27.1% lower than costs at Lake Forest College ($9,358 vs. $11,898)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College than Iowa State University (100% vs. 80%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 243.3% larger than aid received Iowa State University ($37,907 vs. $11,043)
Lake Forest College vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or Lake Forest College .
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Lake Forest College (3.62)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (90.2%) than Lake Forest College (59.7%)
Lake Forest College vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Lake Forest College or ISU? 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 ISU and Lake Forest College.
- The graduation rate at Lake Forest College is the same as at Iowa State University (68% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from Lake Forest College earn on average $100 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($53,800 vs. $53,700)
- Iowa State University students graduate with a $3,132 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($23,868 vs. $27,000)
- ISU graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Forest College graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
- More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/