Lake Forest College vs. ONU

Should I go to Lake Forest College or Ohio Northern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lake Forest College or ONU 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. Ohio Northern University comparison
Lake Forest College Ohio Northern University College 3 College 4
Lake Forest College Ohio Northern University
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Overview

Lake Forest College ONU
Location Lake Forest, IL Ada, OH
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 1,753 3,015
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #267 #211
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lakeforest.edu onu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lake Forest College ONU
Tuition (In State) $52,000 $35,480
Tuition (Out of State) $52,000 $35,480
Room & Board $11,898 $12,900
Avg Net Price $27,839 $27,398
Avg Grant Aid $37,907 $24,235
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Lake Forest College ONU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,665 6,625
Admitted 2,786 3,602
Acceptance Rate 59.7% 54.4%
Enrolled % 16% 18.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.78
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 26/31 25/30
SAT Range 1153/1340 1160/1340
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 ONU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Lake Forest College ONU
Graduation Rate 68% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,800 $71,200
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

Lake Forest College ONU
% Men 41% 52%
% Women 59% 48%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 84%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 17% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 8% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Lake Forest College ONU
% In-State 48% 83%
% Out-of-State 52% 16%

Campus

Lake Forest College ONU
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

  • Ohio Northern University is larger than than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (3,015 students vs. 1,753 students)

Lake Forest College vs. ONU Cost Comparison

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

  • Lake Forest College is 46.6% more expensive to attend than ONU for in-state tuition ($52,000.00 vs. $35,480.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46.6% higher at Lake Forest College than Ohio Northern University ($52,000.00 vs. $35,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio Northern University than Lake Forest College ($27,398 vs. $27,839)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 8.4% lower than costs at Ohio Northern University ($11,898 vs. $12,900)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College than Ohio Northern University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 56.4% larger than aid received Ohio Northern University ($37,907 vs. $24,235)

Lake Forest College vs. ONU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman ONU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at Lake Forest College (3.62)
  • Lake Forest College has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than ONU (54.4%)

Lake Forest College vs. ONU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lake Forest College or ONU? 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 ONU and Lake Forest College.

  • The graduation rate at Lake Forest College is higher than Ohio Northern University (68% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Ohio Northern University earn on average $17,400 more per year than Lake Forest College graduates after ten years. ($71,200 vs. $53,800)
  • Ohio Northern University and Lake Forest College graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Ohio Northern University and Lake Forest College graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More ONU 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/