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Elmhurst College Loyola Lewis University DePaul Benedictine University Augustana Bradley UIC Carthage Aurora University Milikin IWU| Lake Forest College | North Central College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Lake Forest College | North Central College | ||
| Location | Lake Forest, IL | Naperville, IL | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,818 | 2,856 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #273 | #349 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lakeforest.edu | northcentralcollege.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Lake Forest College | North Central College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,300 | $44,114 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,300 | $44,114 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,480 | $12,434 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,894 | $24,190 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $38,424 | $30,619 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Lake Forest College | North Central College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,811 | 5,241 | ||
| Admitted | 2,858 | 3,056 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 59.4% | 58.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.9% | 16.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.62 | 3.6 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 28/31 | 23/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1365 | 1065/1280 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Apr 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Lake Forest College | North Central College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Lake Forest College | North Central College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,800 | $48,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $258 |
Diversity |
Lake Forest College | North Central College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 17% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 8% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 7% |
Students |
Lake Forest College | North Central College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 41% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 36% | 18% | ||
Campus |
Lake Forest College | North Central College | ||
| 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
- North Central College is larger than than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (2,856 students vs. 1,818 students)
Lake Forest College vs. North Central College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or North Central College?
- Lake Forest College is 20.8% more expensive to attend than North Central College for in-state tuition ($53,300.00 vs. $44,114.00)
- Out of state tuition is 20.8% higher at Lake Forest College than North Central College ($53,300.00 vs. $44,114.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Central College than Lake Forest College ($24,190 vs. $29,894)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Central College are 0.4% lower than costs at Lake Forest College ($12,434 vs. $12,480)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College as North Central College (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 25.5% larger than aid received North Central College ($38,424 vs. $30,619)
Lake Forest College vs. North Central College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or North Central College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between North Central College or Lake Forest College .
- Accepted freshman Lake Forest College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at North Central College (3.6)
- Lake Forest College has a higher acceptance rate (59.4%) than North Central College (58.3%)
Lake Forest College vs. North Central College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Lake Forest College or North Central 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 North Central College and Lake Forest College.
- The graduation rate at Lake Forest College is higher than North Central College (68% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from Lake Forest College earn on average $4,900 more per year than North Central College graduates after ten years. ($53,800 vs. $48,900)
- North Central College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- North Central College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Forest College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Central College 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/