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ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Loyola Northwest| Lake Forest College | Northern Illinois University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Lake Forest College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Location | Lake Forest, IL | Dekalb, IL | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,753 | 15,649 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #267 | #454 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lakeforest.edu | niu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Lake Forest College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $52,000 | $9,790 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $52,000 | $9,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,898 | $11,420 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,839 | $13,884 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $37,907 | $12,552 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Lake Forest College | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,665 | 25,961 | ||
| Admitted | 2,786 | 18,348 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 59.7% | 70.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16% | 13.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.62 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1153/1340 | 940/1170 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Lake Forest College | Northern Illinois | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Lake Forest College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,800 | $47,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 61% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $23,859 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $246 |
Diversity |
Lake Forest College | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 16% | ||
| % Hispanic | 17% | 15% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 8% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
Lake Forest College | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 48% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 52% | 5% | ||
Campus |
Lake Forest College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 1,753 students)
Lake Forest College vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or Northern Illinois?
- Lake Forest College is 431.2% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($52,000.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 431.2% higher at Lake Forest College than Northern Illinois University ($52,000.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Lake Forest College ($13,884 vs. $27,839)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 4.2% lower than costs at Lake Forest College ($11,420 vs. $11,898)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 202% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($37,907 vs. $12,552)
Lake Forest College vs. Northern Illinois Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or Northern Illinois? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northern Illinois or Lake Forest College .
- Accepted freshman Lake Forest College students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
- Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than Lake Forest College (59.7%)
Lake Forest College vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Lake Forest College or Northern Illinois? 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 Northern Illinois and Lake Forest College.
- The graduation rate at Lake Forest College is higher than Northern Illinois University (68% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Lake Forest College earn on average $6,200 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($53,800 vs. $47,600)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
- Northern Illinois 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 Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/