Lake Forest College vs. Oberlin

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL with Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oberlin College is larger than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 1,837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Forest College 13:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

Lake Forest College vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or Oberlin? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lake Forest College than Oberlin ($31,225 vs. $51,624).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 34.9% lower than at Oberlin College ($12,700 vs. $19,510).
• Oberlin College is 19.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lake Forest College (about $10,964 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $56,402.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.4% higher at Oberlin than at Lake Forest College (about $10,964 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $56,402.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Forest College than at Oberlin College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 10.8% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($39,630 vs. $35,780).

Lake Forest College vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or Oberlin? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Oberlin and Lake Forest College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 150 points higher than at Lake Forest College (1290).
• Incoming Oberlin students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Lake Forest College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 1190/1393; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 28/32; Oberlin College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Forest College - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Oberlin students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Lake Forest College (3.62).
• Lake Forest College has a higher acceptance rate (56.8%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at Lake Forest College vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Lake Forest College vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Forest College and Oberlin? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Lake Forest College's (68%).
• Graduates from Lake Forest College earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,800 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oberlin College graduates have a $421 lower median loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates ($26,579 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Oberlin graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lake Forest College graduates ($274 vs. $279).
• More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Forest College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.