Lake Forest College vs. Northwestern College

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

Lake Forest College Northwestern College
Location Lake Forest, IL Saint Paul, MN
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,753 3,253
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #267 #554
Religious Affiliation - Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lakeforest.edu nwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lake Forest College Northwestern College
Tuition (In State) $52,000 $34,490
Tuition (Out of State) $52,000 $34,490
Room & Board $11,898 $10,644
Avg Net Price $27,839 $25,704
Avg Grant Aid $37,907 $20,487
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Lake Forest College Northwestern College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,665 1,349
Admitted 2,786 1,248
Acceptance Rate 59.7% 92.5%
Enrolled % 16% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.58
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 21/28
SAT Range 1153/1340 1015/1311
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 1, 2025

Academics

Lake Forest College Northwestern College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)

Outcomes

Lake Forest College Northwestern College
Graduation Rate 68% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,800 $41,100
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,070
Median Loan Payment $279 $228

Diversity

Lake Forest College Northwestern College
% Men 41% 39%
% Women 59% 61%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 84%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 17% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 8% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Lake Forest College Northwestern College
% In-State 48% 77%
% Out-of-State 52% 22%

Campus

Lake Forest College Northwestern 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

  • Northwestern College is larger than than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (3,253 students vs. 1,753 students)

Lake Forest College vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

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

  • Lake Forest College is 50.8% more expensive to attend than Northwestern College for in-state tuition ($52,000.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 50.8% higher at Lake Forest College than Northwestern College ($52,000.00 vs. $34,490.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern College than Lake Forest College ($25,704 vs. $27,839)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 11.8% lower than costs at Lake Forest College ($10,644 vs. $11,898)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College as Northwestern College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 85% larger than aid received Northwestern College ($37,907 vs. $20,487)

Lake Forest College vs. Northwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Lake Forest College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Northwestern College (3.58)
  • Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than Lake Forest College (59.7%)

Lake Forest College vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Lake Forest College is higher than Northwestern College (68% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Lake Forest College earn on average $12,700 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($53,800 vs. $41,100)
  • Northwestern College students graduate with a $4,930 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($22,070 vs. $27,000)
  • Northwestern College graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Forest College graduates. ($228 vs. $279)
  • More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 78%)

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