Lake Forest College vs. St. Mary's College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL with Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lake Forest College is larger than St. Mary's College based on total student enrollment (1,837 students vs. 1,601 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Saint Mary's College is in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Forest College 13:1; Saint Mary's College 9:1.

Lake Forest College vs. St. Mary's College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or St. Mary's College? 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 Saint Mary's College than Lake Forest College ($27,865 vs. $31,225).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 10.9% lower than at Saint Mary's College ($12,700 vs. $14,260).
• Lake Forest College is 6% more expensive for in-state tuition than St. Mary's College (about $3,172 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $53,230.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6% higher at Lake Forest College than at Saint Mary's College (about $3,172 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $53,230.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Lake Forest College as at Saint Mary's College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 2.3% larger than aid received by Saint Mary's College students ($39,630 vs. $38,748).

Lake Forest College vs. St. Mary's College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or St. Mary's College? 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 St. Mary's College and Lake Forest College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lake Forest College (1290) is 60 points higher than at St. Mary's College (1230).
• Incoming Lake Forest College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at St. Mary's College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 1190/1393; Saint Mary's College 1130/1325.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 28/32; Saint Mary's College 26/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Forest College - Test optional; St. Mary's College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Lake Forest College (3.62).
• St. Mary's College has a higher acceptance rate (76%) than Lake Forest College (56.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at Lake Forest College vs. 20.1% at St. Mary's College.

Lake Forest College vs. St. Mary's College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Forest College and St. Mary's College? 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).

• Saint Mary's College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Lake Forest College's (68%).
• Graduates from Lake Forest College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than St. Mary's College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,800 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's College and Lake Forest College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Saint Mary's College and Lake Forest College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Forest College students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.