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Wisconsin Purdue ISU Michigan Georgia Tech UT Austin UIC Loyola Ohio State IU Minnesota ISU| University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign | Lake Forest College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Illinois | Lake Forest College | ||
| Location | Champaign, IL | Lake Forest, IL | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 56,563 | 1,818 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #120 | #273 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinois.edu | lakeforest.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Illinois | Lake Forest College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,712 | $53,300 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,208 | $53,300 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,938 | $12,480 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,297 | $29,894 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $17,524 | $38,424 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 48% | 100% |
Admission |
Illinois | Lake Forest College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 67,398 | 4,811 | ||
| Admitted | 29,446 | 2,858 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 43.7% | 59.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.3% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.62 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/34 | 28/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1270/1510 | 1170/1365 | ||
| 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 | Jan 5, 2026 | Feb 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Illinois | Lake Forest College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Illinois | Lake Forest College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $66,500 | $53,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $279 |
Diversity |
Illinois | Lake Forest College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 21% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 1% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 17% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 16% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Illinois | Lake Forest College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 41% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 12% | 36% | ||
Campus |
Illinois | Lake Forest College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is larger than than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (56,563 students vs. 1,818 students)
Illinois vs. Lake Forest College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Illinois or Lake Forest College?
- Lake Forest College is 319.3% more expensive to attend than Illinois for in-state tuition ($53,300.00 vs. $12,712.00)
- Out of state tuition is 70.8% higher at Lake Forest College than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($53,300.00 vs. $31,208.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign than Lake Forest College ($14,297 vs. $29,894)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 11.7% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($12,480 vs. $13,938)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lake Forest College than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (100% vs. 48%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 119.3% larger than aid received University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($38,424 vs. $17,524)
Illinois vs. Lake Forest College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Illinois or Lake Forest College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lake Forest College or Illinois .
- Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Lake Forest College (3.62)
- Lake Forest College has a higher acceptance rate (59.4%) than Illinois (43.7%)
Illinois vs. Lake Forest College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Illinois or Lake Forest College? 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 Lake Forest College and Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Illinois is higher than Lake Forest College (82% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign earn on average $12,700 more per year than Lake Forest College graduates after ten years. ($66,500 vs. $53,800)
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $27,000)
- Illinois graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than Lake Forest College graduates. ($211 vs. $279)
- More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Illinois 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/