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Kentucky University of Toledo DePaul Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Augustana Louisville BGSU| Lake Forest College | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Lake Forest College | NKU | ||
| Location | Lake Forest, IL | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,753 | 15,801 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #267 | #805 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lakeforest.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Lake Forest College | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $52,000 | $10,208 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $52,000 | $20,464 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,898 | $11,248 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,839 | $7,259 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $37,907 | $11,275 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Lake Forest College | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,665 | 6,905 | ||
| Admitted | 2,786 | 5,939 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 59.7% | 86% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16% | 27.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.62 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1153/1340 | 1030/1290 | ||
| 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 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Lake Forest College | NKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Lake Forest College | NKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,800 | $39,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $24,950 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $257 |
Diversity |
Lake Forest College | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 17% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
Lake Forest College | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 48% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 52% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Lake Forest College | NKU | ||
| 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
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (15,801 students vs. 1,753 students)
Lake Forest College vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or NKU?
- Lake Forest College is 409.4% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($52,000.00 vs. $10,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 154.1% higher at Lake Forest College than Northern Kentucky University ($52,000.00 vs. $20,464.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Lake Forest College ($7,259 vs. $27,839)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 5.8% lower than costs at Lake Forest College ($11,248 vs. $11,898)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College as Northern Kentucky University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 236.2% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($37,907 vs. $11,275)
Lake Forest College vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or Lake Forest College .
- Accepted freshman Lake Forest College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Lake Forest College (59.7%)
Lake Forest College vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Lake Forest College or NKU? 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 NKU and Lake Forest College.
- The graduation rate at Lake Forest College is higher than Northern Kentucky University (68% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Lake Forest College earn on average $14,100 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($53,800 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Forest College graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/