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Lake Forest College

Private

Lake Forest, IL

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Lake Forest College is a private small school in Lake Forest, IL, enrolling about 1,813 undergraduates. Lake Forest College is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate near 57%. Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services graduates, especially in Finance and Financial Management Services, report the strongest earnings here: a median of $98,583/year. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.

Admissions

Admit rate57%
SAT range1190–1393
ACT range28–32
Undergrads1,813
Yield (admits who enroll)16%
Next deadlineNov 1, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$70,655
4-year grad rate74%
Median earnings, 10yr out$61,825

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Lake Forest College's numbers?

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How Lake Forest College weighs your application

From Lake Forest College's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankConsidered
Academic GPAImportant
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayVery important
RecommendationsConsidered
Nonacademic factors
InterviewVery important
Extracurricular activitiesVery important
Talent/abilityVery important
Character/personal qualitiesVery important
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyNot considered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workNot considered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans67%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out77%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$48,287/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Finance and Financial Management Services$98,583/yr
Business/Commerce, General$74,632/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Communication and Media Studies$64,580/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science$77,554/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$58,901/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$52,598/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$54,270/yr
Social Sciences
Political Science and Government$61,770/yr
Social Sciences, Other$53,438/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity1,236
Typical room charge$5,734
Typical board charge$6,164

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Lake Forest College look for in applicants?

Per Lake Forest College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, application essay, character/personal qualities, interview, extracurricular activities, talent/ability as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Lake Forest College's acceptance rate?

Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL admits approximately 57% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Lake Forest College?

Admitted students at Lake Forest College typically score between 1190–1393 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Lake Forest College?

Admitted students at Lake Forest College typically score between 28–32 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Lake Forest College cost?

Lake Forest College's total cost of attendance is reported at $70,655 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Lake Forest College?

Lake Forest College's earliest deadline is Nov 1, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Lake Forest College require students to live on campus?

No -- Lake Forest College doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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