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Lake Forest , IL
Lake Forest College is a private liberal arts college located in Lake Forest, Illinois, just north of Chicago. Established in 1857, the college offers undergraduate programs to over 1,500 students. Lake Forest College has gained a reputation for its strong emphasis on a personalized education, small class sizes, and close-knit community. The college offers more than 80 areas of study, including the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and business, providing students with a well-rounded education.
One of the main highlights of Lake Forest College is its commitment to providing a personalized educational experience for its students. With an average class size of 17, students have the opportunity to engage in lively discussions and receive individual attention from their professors. Additionally, Lake Forest College offers abundant research and internship opportunities, allowing students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world settings. The college also maintains strong partnerships with local businesses and organizations, further enhancing students' practical learning experiences.
Lake Forest College also prides itself on its vibrant and inclusive community. The college encourages students to get involved in extracurricular activities and offers numerous clubs, organizations, and sports teams for students to join. The campus is known for its picturesque location and historical architecture, providing a serene and inspiring environment for its students. Lake Forest College also values diversity and ensures that students from all backgrounds feel welcome and supported.
Overall, Lake Forest College offers a well-rounded education paired with personalized attention, making it an ideal choice for students seeking a close-knit community and a strong academic foundation. With its beautiful campus, extensive academic offerings, and focus on experiential learning, Lake Forest College provides students with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed both personally and professionally.
Located in Lake Forest, IL and set in a suburban environment, Lake Forest College is a private comprehensive higher education institution. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 59%. The freshman retention rate at Lake Forest College is 86.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 1%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is February 15. Learn more about what Lake Forest College has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
1,796
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$55,500
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
1%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you discover as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly increase. Here are the most relevant information you have to know about admission policy and requirements at Lake Forest College.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,858 in 2024. Lake Forest College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
16% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 11% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 17.9% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 55.2% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 26.9% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 45.8, 52.1 between 24-29 and 2.1 in the range between 18-23.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2024 was 28 and the average GPA was 3.68. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Lake Forest College; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 633 for the enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 623.
Deadlines
The closing date for applications to this school is February 15.
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for Lake Forest College was 86.3%, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 1%.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the best place for you is not a simple task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the school enrolled 1,818 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 37. There was a total of 1,796 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 224 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 82.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 754 male and 1,026 female full-time students in 2024. There were 2 full-time graduate male and 11 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Lake Forest College.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 87, and the number of Afro-American students was 44. 266 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 45 as multirace. There were also 49 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Lake Forest College that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Lake Forest College estimated tuition costs.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $55,500 in 2024. Lake Forest College is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $902 in 2024.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to pay about $1,350 for books and supplies during their time at Lake Forest College.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2024, room and board cost at Lake Forest College amounted to $12,700 a year. If you only wanted a dorm room, you had to pay $6,200 for the 2024 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $6,200.
Tuition | $ 55,500 |
Room and Board | $ 12,700 |
Book and Supplies | $ 1,350 |
Total Expense | $ 69,550 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for many students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid you might get at Lake Forest College.
According to the most recent data, 359 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $52,750 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 1,427 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Lake Forest College is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 1,427. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $3,907,231, and state $4,193,000. The students of Lake Forest College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $49,977,014, and external in the amount of $11,434,987.
$31,550
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $11,295,693. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $297,880 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2024, this ratio at Lake Forest College was 13:1. That means that there were 13 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 190. Out of that number, there were 89 male and 101 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Lake Forest College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Lake Forest College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at Lake Forest College.
Its campus spans 107 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 67 open-membership organizations at Lake Forest College. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 15 and female students 15. The most popular student organization is Umoja, followed by Future Health Professionals and Student Programming Board. Other popular student organizations at this school are United Black Association and Athletic Council.
If you have an interest in acting, there's a drama club you can be a part of. Interested in media and communication? Lake Forest College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Lake Forest College has a number of services important for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Lake Forest College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Lake Forest College.
Career Counselling
At Lake Forest College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Understanding the potential salary after graduating can be of help in determining if a specific educational institution matches your professional aspirations.
The average annual salary for graduates employed six months after graduation from this institution is 54,306 USD.
$54,306
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, IL.
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Lake Forest College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Lake Forest College is 55,500 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Lake Forest College is 59%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Lake Forest College is 86.3%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.