Lake Forest College vs. St Olaf

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL with St Olaf College in Northfield, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

St Olaf College is larger than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 1,837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
• Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Forest College 13:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

Lake Forest College vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or St Olaf? 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 St Olaf College than Lake Forest College ($26,756 vs. $31,225).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 6.8% lower than at St Olaf College ($12,700 vs. $13,630).
• St Olaf College is 6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lake Forest College (about $3,358 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $56,402.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6% higher at St Olaf than at Lake Forest College (about $3,358 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $56,402.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Lake Forest College as at St Olaf College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 13.8% larger than aid received by Lake Forest College students ($45,098 vs. $39,630).

Lake Forest College vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 100 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 St Olaf (30).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 1190/1393; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 28/32; St Olaf College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Forest College - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027; St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Lake Forest College (3.62).
• Lake Forest College has a higher acceptance rate (56.8%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at Lake Forest College vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

Lake Forest College vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• St Olaf College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Lake Forest College's (68%).
• Graduates from Lake Forest College earn a median of about $100 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,800 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St Olaf College and Lake Forest College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, St Olaf College and Lake Forest College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Forest College students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.