Lake Forest College vs. McKendree University

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

Lake Forest College McKendree University
Location Lake Forest, IL Lebanon, IL
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,753 1,960
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #267 #607
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lakeforest.edu mckendree.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lake Forest College McKendree University
Tuition (In State) $52,000 $32,020
Tuition (Out of State) $52,000 $32,020
Room & Board $11,898 $11,590
Avg Net Price $27,839 $22,431
Avg Grant Aid $37,907 $24,145
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Lake Forest College McKendree University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,665 2,332
Admitted 2,786 1,594
Acceptance Rate 59.7% 68.4%
Enrolled % 16% 26.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.38
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 26/31 18/28
SAT Range 1153/1340 871/1277
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2025

Academics

Lake Forest College McKendree University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Business (37%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (4%)

Outcomes

Lake Forest College McKendree University
Graduation Rate 68% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,800 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $240

Diversity

Lake Forest College McKendree University
% Men 41% 46%
% Women 59% 54%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 58% 68%
% Black 7% 14%
% Hispanic 17% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 8% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 7%

Students

Lake Forest College McKendree University
% In-State 48% 48%
% Out-of-State 52% 27%

Campus

Lake Forest College McKendree 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

  • McKendree University is larger than than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (1,960 students vs. 1,753 students)

Lake Forest College vs. McKendree University Cost Comparison

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

  • Lake Forest College is 62.4% more expensive to attend than McKendree University for in-state tuition ($52,000.00 vs. $32,020.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.4% higher at Lake Forest College than McKendree University ($52,000.00 vs. $32,020.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at McKendree University than Lake Forest College ($22,431 vs. $27,839)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McKendree University are 2.7% lower than costs at Lake Forest College ($11,590 vs. $11,898)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College as McKendree University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 57% larger than aid received McKendree University ($37,907 vs. $24,145)

Lake Forest College vs. McKendree University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Lake Forest College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at McKendree University (3.38)
  • McKendree University has a higher acceptance rate (68.4%) than Lake Forest College (59.7%)

Lake Forest College vs. McKendree University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lake Forest College or McKendree 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 McKendree University and Lake Forest College.

  • The graduation rate at Lake Forest College is higher than McKendree University (68% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Lake Forest College earn on average $5,500 more per year than McKendree University graduates after ten years. ($53,800 vs. $48,300)
  • McKendree University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($23,250 vs. $27,000)
  • McKendree University graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Forest College graduates. ($240 vs. $279)
  • More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McKendree University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 58%)

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