Lake Forest College vs. Union University

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

Lake Forest College Union University
Location Lake Forest, IL Jackson, TN
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 1,818 2,674
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #273 #173
Religious Affiliation - Southern Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lakeforest.edu uu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lake Forest College Union University
Tuition (In State) $53,300 $37,000
Tuition (Out of State) $53,300 $37,000
Room & Board $12,480 $12,166
Avg Net Price $29,894 $27,191
Avg Grant Aid $38,424 $28,671
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Lake Forest College Union University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,811 3,012
Admitted 2,858 1,421
Acceptance Rate 59.4% 47.2%
Enrolled % 14.9% 22.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.8
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/31 22/29
SAT Range 1170/1365 1030/1340
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, 2026

Academics

Lake Forest College Union University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • General Studies (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Business (5%)

Outcomes

Lake Forest College Union University
Graduation Rate 68% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,800 $48,200
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,840
Median Loan Payment $279 $256

Diversity

Lake Forest College Union University
% Men 0% 8%
% Women 1% 21%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 70%
% Black 7% 19%
% Hispanic 17% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 8% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

Lake Forest College Union University
% In-State 41% 71%
% Out-of-State 36% 28%

Campus

Lake Forest College Union University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Union University is larger than than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (2,674 students vs. 1,818 students)

Lake Forest College vs. Union University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or Union University?

  • Lake Forest College is 44.1% more expensive to attend than Union University for in-state tuition ($53,300.00 vs. $37,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.1% higher at Lake Forest College than Union University ($53,300.00 vs. $37,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Union University than Lake Forest College ($27,191 vs. $29,894)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union University are 2.6% lower than costs at Lake Forest College ($12,166 vs. $12,480)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College as Union University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 34% larger than aid received Union University ($38,424 vs. $28,671)

Lake Forest College vs. Union University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Union University students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Lake Forest College (3.62)
  • Lake Forest College has a higher acceptance rate (59.4%) than Union University (47.2%)

Lake Forest College vs. Union University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lake Forest College or Union University? 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 Union University and Lake Forest College.

  • The graduation rate at Lake Forest College is higher than Union University (68% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from Lake Forest College earn on average $5,600 more per year than Union University graduates after ten years. ($53,800 vs. $48,200)
  • Union University students graduate with a $2,160 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($24,840 vs. $27,000)
  • Union University graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Forest College graduates. ($256 vs. $279)
  • More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Union University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/