Lake Forest College vs. Carleton College

Comparable Facts

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

Carleton College is larger than Lake Forest College based on total student enrollment (2,128 students vs. 1,837 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Carleton College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
• Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carleton College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Forest College 13:1; Carleton College 8:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Forest College are 27.8% lower than at Carleton College ($12,700 vs. $17,586).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.1% higher at Carleton College than at Lake Forest College (about $12,490 more per year; $68,892 vs. $56,402).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Forest College than at Carleton College (100% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carleton College students is 43.4% larger than aid received by Lake Forest College students ($56,846 vs. $39,630).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Carleton College than at Lake Forest College (33 vs. 30, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Lake Forest College and Carleton College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027; Carleton College Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Carleton College average a 3.9 high school GPA, 0.28 higher than at Lake Forest College (3.62).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at Lake Forest College vs. 34.8% at Carleton College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carleton College graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Carleton College graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lake Forest College graduates ($201 vs. $279).
• More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Forest College students, three years after graduation (92% vs. 78%).

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