Lake Forest College vs. Northland College

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

Lake Forest College Northland College
Location Lake Forest, IL Ashland, WI
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 1,753 518
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #267
Religious Affiliation - United Church of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lakeforest.edu northland.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lake Forest College Northland College
Tuition (In State) $52,000 $39,719
Tuition (Out of State) $52,000 $39,719
Room & Board $11,898 $9,688
Avg Net Price $27,839 $23,252
Avg Grant Aid $37,907 $29,780
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Lake Forest College Northland College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,665 1,316
Admitted 2,786 900
Acceptance Rate 59.7% 68.4%
Enrolled % 16% 13.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 26/31 19/25
SAT Range 1153/1340 1121/1280
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, 2025

Academics

Lake Forest College Northland College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (23%)
  • Biology (22%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)

Outcomes

Lake Forest College Northland College
Graduation Rate 68% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,800 $34,900
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,943
Median Loan Payment $279 $278

Diversity

Lake Forest College Northland College
% Men 41% 47%
% Women 59% 53%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 83%
% Black 7% 1%
% Hispanic 17% 6%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 8% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

Lake Forest College Northland College
% In-State 48% 36%
% Out-of-State 52% 50%

Campus

Lake Forest College Northland College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Lake Forest College is larger than than Northland College based on total student enrollment (1,753 students vs. 518 students)

Lake Forest College vs. Northland College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or Northland College?

  • Lake Forest College is 30.9% more expensive to attend than Northland College for in-state tuition ($52,000.00 vs. $39,719.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.9% higher at Lake Forest College than Northland College ($52,000.00 vs. $39,719.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northland College than Lake Forest College ($23,252 vs. $27,839)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northland College are 22.8% lower than costs at Lake Forest College ($9,688 vs. $11,898)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College as Northland College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 27.3% larger than aid received Northland College ($37,907 vs. $29,780)

Lake Forest College vs. Northland College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or Northland College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northland College 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 Northland College (3.3)
  • Northland College has a higher acceptance rate (68.4%) than Lake Forest College (59.7%)

Lake Forest College vs. Northland College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lake Forest College or Northland 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 Northland College and Lake Forest College.

  • The graduation rate at Lake Forest College is higher than Northland College (68% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Lake Forest College earn on average $18,900 more per year than Northland College graduates after ten years. ($53,800 vs. $34,900)
  • Northland College students graduate with a $57 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($26,943 vs. $27,000)
  • Northland College graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Forest College graduates. ($278 vs. $279)
  • More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northland College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 73%)

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