Illinois College vs. Lake Forest College

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL with Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Lake Forest College is larger than Illinois College based on total student enrollment (1,837 students vs. 942 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Illinois College is located in Jacksonville, IL (Distant Town setting); Lake Forest College is in Lake Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Illinois College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois College 12:1; Lake Forest College 13:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois College are 5.3% lower than at Lake Forest College ($12,026 vs. $12,700).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.8% higher at Lake Forest College than at Illinois College (about $17,726 more per year; $56,402 vs. $38,676).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois College as at Lake Forest College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 25.4% larger than aid received by Illinois College students ($39,630 vs. $31,609).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 8 points higher at Lake Forest College than at Illinois College (30 vs. 22, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Illinois College and Lake Forest College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Illinois College average a 3.63 high school GPA, 0.01 higher than at Lake Forest College (3.62).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.2% at Illinois College vs. 13.6% at Lake Forest College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Forest College and Illinois College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Lake Forest College and Illinois College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Illinois College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Forest College students, three years after graduation (79% vs. 78%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.