Lake Forest, IL · Private · 1,813 undergraduates · suburban
Lake Forest College
Moderately selective
Its In The Loop programs use Chicago as a regular academic and professional extension of the Lake Forest campus.
Institutional profile
Highly regarded Strong in student experience, and solid in mobility.- Admission
- 59.4% admitted
- Price by income
- Varies across five income ranges
- Completion
- 77.2%
4,811 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$61,825 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets Lake Forest College apart
Academic design
The college combines liberal-arts majors with experiential learning, internships, research, and interdisciplinary programs that draw on Chicago-area institutions and employers.
Campus pattern
The wooded campus near Lake Michigan is walkable and residential, while rail access makes downtown Chicago practical for internships, classes, and cultural trips.
Defining feature
Its In The Loop programs use Chicago as a regular academic and professional extension of the Lake Forest campus.
Can I get in?
59.4% admitted
Start with academic preparation, then show why this particular academic and campus environment fits you.
Recent applicant pool
4,811About 59 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 16% submitted an SAT, and 11% submitted an ACT. Very few of the admitted class reported a score at all, so the SAT and ACT ranges describe those students rather than the class.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for Lake Forest College, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What Lake Forest College weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
The college combines liberal-arts majors with experiential learning, internships, research, and interdisciplinary programs that draw on Chicago-area institutions and employers.
Make the fit specific
Its In The Loop programs use Chicago as a regular academic and professional extension of the Lake Forest campus.
Account for the tradeoff
Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and make the school-specific case concrete.
Check eligibility for a fee waiver
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at Lake Forest College
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Its In The Loop programs use Chicago as a regular academic and professional extension of the Lake Forest campus.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Research and Experimental Psychology
Business/Commerce, General
Finance and Financial Management Services
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Biology, General
What is campus life like?
Lake Forest College beyond the classroom
The wooded campus near Lake Michigan is walkable and residential, while rail access makes downtown Chicago practical for internships, classes, and cultural trips.
A defining academic feature
The college combines liberal-arts majors with experiential learning, internships, research, and interdisciplinary programs that draw on Chicago-area institutions and employers.
What shapes an ordinary week
The wooded campus near Lake Michigan is walkable and residential, while rail access makes downtown Chicago practical for internships, classes, and cultural trips.
What changes the experience
Its In The Loop programs use Chicago as a regular academic and professional extension of the Lake Forest campus.