🇺🇸 USA · Illinois

Lake Forest College

Private
Suburban
4-year degree

Reported admit rate: 56.8%Year unverified
Tuition per year: ₹52,97,952Out-of-state
Students: 1,813Undergraduates
Students per teacher: 13Student to faculty

About

Lake Forest College is a private liberal arts college in Lake Forest, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1857 as Lind University by a group of Presbyterian ministers, the college has been coeducational since 1876 and an undergraduate-focused liberal arts institution since 1903. Lake Forest enrolls approximately 1,800 students representing 43 states and 114 countries. Lake Forest offers 34 undergraduate majors and 49 minor programs in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and features programs of study in pre-law, pre-medicine, communication, business, finance, and computer science. Most students live on the college's wooded 107-acre (43 ha) campus located 0.5 miles (0.80 km) from the Lake Michigan shore; however, the population of commuting students has increased in the past few years.
Lake Forest is affiliated with the Associated Colleges of the Midwest. The college has 23 varsity teams that compete in the NCAA Division III Midwest Conference.

Admissions planning estimate

56.8% baseline · Low data confidence

Sensitivity range: 21.8%–91.8%. This is a modelling range, not a statistical confidence interval or a personal admission probability.

Stored headline rate, year/definition not independently confirmed in this refresh. Retained as a prior rather than applying an unsupported inflation multiplier. Historical IPEDS 2023 comparator: 59.41%; different cohorts are not mixed.

Reviewed 2026-10-01. Recommendations also use your grades, intended course, eligibility and available entrance cutoffs.

All / All Rounds: 59.4% (2,858/4,811; 2023). Fall 2023 first-time first-year applicants; historical, not 2026. Official source

Reported admit rate

56.8%admitted

57 in 100 applications received an offer in this reported cohort. Year unverified. This is not your personal chance.

From application to first day

Applied 5,358

Offered a place 3,044

Enrolled 415

13.6% of students offered a place chose to enrol (the yield).

Scores of enrolled test-submitters

The middle 50% of enrolled students who submitted scores. Test-optional selection can affect these bands.

SAT composite1190-1393

4001600

ACT composite28-32

136

What a year costs

₹66,17,697 published cost of attendance, per year

Tuition₹52,97,952
Housing₹11,92,936
Books & supplies₹1,26,808

Sticker price ₹66,17,697

After aid (average) ₹26,93,312

Tuition by who is paying

In-state ₹52,97,952

Out-of-state ₹52,97,952

Average aid awarded: ₹48,60,981 a year.

Outcomes and support

89.9%

Retention

77.8%

Graduation

78%

Get financial aid

44%

From out of state

One teacher for every 13 students

A typical ratio for a strong university.

Who studies here

As reported by the college; shares may not add up to 100.

White 46.9%

Hispanic 18.1%

Asian 6.2%

Multiracial 3.6%

Unknown 2.7%

African American 2.6%

Native American 0.1%

Key dates

Early action 1 Nov 2026 Passed
Early decision 1 Nov 2026 Passed
Early decision II 15 Jan 2027 In 64 days
Regular decision 15 Feb 2027 In 95 days
Decisions out 1 Apr 2027 In 140 days

2 programmes

Bachelor's
Master's

Programmes

Programme	Level
Area Studies	bachelor
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	bachelor
Biology, General	bachelor
Business/Commerce, General	bachelor
Chemistry	bachelor
Communication and Media Studies	bachelor
Computer and Information Sciences, General	bachelor
Computer Science	bachelor
Data Analytics	bachelor
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	bachelor
Economics	bachelor
Education, General	bachelor
English Language and Literature, General	bachelor
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	bachelor
Finance and Financial Management Services	bachelor
Fine and Studio Arts	bachelor
History	bachelor
International Relations and National Security Studies	bachelor
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	bachelor
Mathematics	bachelor
Music	bachelor
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	bachelor
Neurobiology and Neurosciences	bachelor
Philosophy	bachelor
Physics	bachelor
Political Science and Government	bachelor
Psychology, General	bachelor
Religion/Religious Studies	bachelor
Research and Experimental Psychology	bachelor
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	bachelor
Social Sciences, Other	bachelor
Sociology and Anthropology	bachelor
Statistics	bachelor
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	bachelor

Every detail

Admissions & Requirements

Acceptance Rate56.81%

Total Applicants5358

Admitted Applicants3044

Enrolled Applicants415

Fee Waiver AvailableYes

SAT/ACT RequirementConsidered if submitted

GPA RequirementRequired

Class Rank RequirementConsidered if submitted

Recommendations RequiredConsidered if submitted

AP Credit AwardedYes

AP Placement AwardedYes

Deadlines

Early Action Date2026-11-01

Early Decision Date2026-11-01

Early Decision II Date2027-01-15

Regular Decision Date2027-02-15

Decision Notification Date2027-04-01

Test Scores

SAT Composite 25th %1190

SAT Composite 75th %1393

ACT Composite 25th %28

ACT Composite 75th %32

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition₹52,97,952

Out-of-State Tuition₹52,97,952

Average Housing Cost₹11,92,936

Books & Supplies₹1,26,808

Average Net Price₹26,93,312

Students Receiving Aid78%

Average Aid Awarded₹48,60,981

Out-of-State Students44%

Student Body Diversity

African American2.59%

Asian6.23%

Hispanic18.09%

White46.88%

Multiracial3.64%

Native American0.11%

Pacific Islander0.00

International19.75%

Unknown Race2.7%

Academics & Rankings

School TypePrivate

School SettingSuburban

Years4

Graduation Rate77.78%

Retention Rate89.88%

Student/Faculty Ratio13:1

Total Undergraduates1813

Contact

Street Address555 N Sheridan Rd

ZIP Code60045

Phone(847) 735-5000

Websitehttps://www.lakeforest.edu/

Apply (official portal)https://www.commonapp.org/