Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Lake Forest College #806 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,932 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 49.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Lake Forest College sits in the 63.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Lake Forest College's Azimuth ranking reflects strong financial outcomes relative to its private-college peers, with graduates consistently achieving higher-than-expected earnings across fields. The institution's business-focused program mix contributes to these durable outcomes, particularly for students entering finance and professional services.
Azimuth ranks Lake Forest College #806 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Lake Forest, Illinois, Lake Forest College enrolls roughly 1,813 undergraduates. Retention is 89.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 77.8%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Lake Forest College performs strongest in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Lake Forest College #647 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $62,893, and Lake Forest College sits in the 49.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strong earnings performance reflects the college's emphasis on Business and professional preparation, combined with its location in the Chicago metropolitan region — a major hub for finance, consulting, and corporate employment. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Lake Forest College enrolls 32.2% Pell-eligible students and 24.6% first-generation undergraduates, placing the college in the 48.1 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Lake Forest College in the 16.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a private institution's tuition structure and the financial aid landscape for families who do not qualify for need-based aid. For admitted students who do receive aid, the college's published commitment to meeting demonstrated financial need shapes the actual out-of-pocket cost.
Lake Forest College's published cost of attendance is $70,655. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $19,605, middle-income families pay around $21,481, and higher-income families pay approximately $35,341. Azimuth ranks Lake Forest College #1191 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Lake Forest College participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the college evaluates demonstrated financial need to determine aid eligibility. Merit-based scholarships may also be available; prospective students should review the college's financial aid page for current aid policies and application requirements. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,158, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $35,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,893, median federal debt of $26,158 projects to a monthly payment of about $296 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Lake Forest College is a strong fit for students seeking a private liberal arts experience with business-oriented strengths in IL's Midwest region. The college combines small-campus intimacy with proximity to Chicago's professional networks, particularly for students interested in Business fields that represent 18% of degree output. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $62,893, placing Lake Forest College in the 63.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $1,932 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 49.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college serves a mix of traditional and first-generation students — 32.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 24.6% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $35,341, with median federal debt at graduation of $26,158. Fit depends on academic orientation toward the college's Business strengths and comfort with its 56.8% admit rate. Students seeking structured professional pathways will find stronger outcomes here than at many peer liberal arts colleges.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Lake Forest College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Finance and Financial Management Services
30 graduates
Computer Science
8 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
53 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
30 graduates
Political Science and Government
16 graduates
Lake Forest College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college with applied career outcomes. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 53 graduates, followed by Research Psychology, Biology, General, Economics, and Communication and Media Studies.
Business represents the dominant concentration, with Business and 18% of the degree portfolio, alongside Social Sciences at 18% and Arts at 5%. The highest-earning programs at Lake Forest College cluster in professional and quantitative fields.
Finance leads with median earnings of $98,583 four years after enrollment from 30 graduates, followed by Business/Commerce, General with 53 graduates earning $74,632. Communication and Media Studies delivers median earnings of $64,580 from 30 graduates, while English Language and Literature, General and Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services round out the earnings leaders with $58,901 and $52,598 respectively.
These programs reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter professional roles immediately after completion. The institution's program portfolio emphasizes career-ready preparation aligned with regional labor markets.
Most of Lake Forest College's ranked programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly in business, finance, and professional services sectors. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with national wage trends and hiring demand in professional services and business administration fields.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Lake Forest College's published cost of attendance is $70,655. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $19,605, middle-income families pay around $21,481, and higher-income families pay approximately $35,341.
Azimuth ranks Lake Forest College #1191 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Lake Forest College participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the college evaluates demonstrated financial need to determine aid eligibility.
Merit-based scholarships may also be available; prospective students should review the college's [financial aid page](https://www.lakeforest.edu/admission/financial-aid/) for current aid policies and application requirements. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,158, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $35,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,893, median federal debt of $26,158 projects to a monthly payment of about $296 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Lake Forest College earn median 4-year earnings of $62,893, placing Lake Forest College in the 63.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,932 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lake Forest College in the 49.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Lake Forest College #647 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Lake Forest College's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business/Commerce, General is the largest program by aggregate return, combining substantial enrollment with solid mid-career pay. Among the most popular majors, Business/Commerce, General enrolls 53 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $74,632, while Research Psychology and Biology, General also anchor the institution's degree output.
Biology, General graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $48,287, performing at 0.8× the national benchmark for the field. Communication and Media Studies rounds out the top programs with 30 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $64,580, at 1.1× benchmark.
This program mix — anchored in Business — supports consistent mid-career outcomes across the institution's undergraduate portfolio.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Elmhurst University Higher acceptance rate (16.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 25 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 76% | $61,462 | Compare |
Dominican University Higher acceptance rate (20.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 24 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 80% | $60,327 | Compare |
Benedictine University Higher acceptance rate (17.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 35 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 77% | $63,446 | Compare |
Illinois State University Higher acceptance rate (29.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 89% | $62,117 | Compare |
University Of Kansas Higher acceptance rate (28.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | KS | 88% | $61,945 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Husson University Similar quality tier (#22494 ranked) | ME | 81% | $45,025 | #22494 | Compare |
Mcdaniel College Similar quality tier (#21975 ranked) | MD | 78% | $60,663 | #21975 | Compare |
Piedmont University Similar quality tier (#21452 ranked) | GA | 93% | $49,130 | #21452 | Compare |
Olivet Nazarene University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#22511 ranked) | IL | 56% | $53,213 | #22511 | Compare |
Regent University Similar quality tier (#22515 ranked) | VA | 38% | $44,498 | #22515 | Compare |
