Lake Forest College

7/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Lake Forest, IL
0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

1,837

Location Lake Forest, Illinois
Website lakeforest.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Large Suburban

Best Colleges Rank

#277

Size Small
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

Lake Forest College is situated in the suburban community of Lake Forest, Illinois, approximately 30 miles north of Chicago along Lake Michigan. The 107-acre wooded campus features both historic and modern buildings, with many structures exhibiting Classical Revival architecture dating to the college's founding in 1857. A private liberal arts institution, Lake Forest maintains selective admission standards and offers programs across more than 40 academic majors, with notable strengths in business, economics, and environmental studies. The residential campus houses most students in its residence halls and provides direct access to Chicago via the nearby Metra rail station. Lake Forest competes in NCAA Division III athletics as the Foresters, participating in the Midwest Conference.

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Ratings

Lake Forest College is rated within the top 35% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 7 out of 10.

Overall Rating

7 out of 10
Academics

9 out of 10
Resources

7 out of 10
Outcomes

6 out of 10
Value

8 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for Lake Forest College within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Very High

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1190/1393
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 28/32
GPA 3.62

Acceptance Rate

56.8%

Applications Due Feb 15, 2027
Enrollment Rate 13.6%
Application Fee $0

Applicant Competition Average

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$56,402

Costs for Lake Forest College
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$56,402
Books and Supplies		$1,350
Other Fees		$902
Room and Board		$12,700
Budget for Other Expenses		$3,048
Total One Year Cost		$74,402

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$53,800 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

68% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Lake Forest College are Social Sciences, Business, and Communication. 27% of students major in Social Sciences, 9% in Business, and 9% in Communication.