Lake Forest College vs. Purdue

Deciding between Lake Forest College and Purdue University Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Lake Forest College
Purdue University Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lake Forest College Lake Forest, IL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Lake Forest College Large Suburban
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Lake Forest College 1,837
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Lake Forest College Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lake Forest College #277
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lake Forest College -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Lake Forest College Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lake Forest College
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lake Forest College $56,402
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lake Forest College $56,402
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Lake Forest College $12,700
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Lake Forest College $31,225
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lake Forest College $39,630
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lake Forest College 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lake Forest College 5,356
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Lake Forest College 3,043
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lake Forest College 56.8%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Lake Forest College 13.6%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lake Forest College 1290
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lake Forest College 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lake Forest College 3.62
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lake Forest College A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lake Forest College Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lake Forest College Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Lake Forest College 28/32
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Lake Forest College 1190/1393
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lake Forest College Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lake Forest College 13:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lake Forest College
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lake Forest College 68%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lake Forest College $53,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lake Forest College 78%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lake Forest College $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lake Forest College $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lake Forest College 43%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Lake Forest College 57%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lake Forest College High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Lake Forest College No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Lake Forest College 58%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Lake Forest College 5%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Lake Forest College 7%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lake Forest College 17%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Lake Forest College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lake Forest College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lake Forest College 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Lake Forest College 8%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lake Forest College 3%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lake Forest College 46%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lake Forest College 34%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Lake Forest College Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Lake Forest College No
  • Purdue No
  • Meal Plan
  • Lake Forest College Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Lake Forest College No
  • Purdue No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Lake Forest College No
  • Purdue Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Forest College 13:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Lake Forest College vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or Purdue? 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 Purdue University Main Campus than Lake Forest College ($13,722 vs. $31,225).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 0.9% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($12,700 vs. $12,820).
  • Lake Forest College is 464.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $46,410 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 95.9% higher at Lake Forest College than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $27,608 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Forest College than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 250.9% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($39,630 vs. $11,294).

Lake Forest College vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or Purdue? 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 Purdue and Lake Forest College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 50 points higher than at Lake Forest College (1290).
  • Incoming Lake Forest College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Purdue (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 1190/1393; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 28/32; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Forest College - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue 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 Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at Lake Forest College vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Lake Forest College vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Forest College and Purdue? 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).

  • The graduation rate at Lake Forest College is the same as at Purdue University Main Campus (68% vs. 68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Lake Forest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $53,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lake Forest College graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.