Lake Forest College vs. College of the Atlantic

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL with College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lake Forest College is larger than College of the Atlantic based on total student enrollment (1,837 students vs. 358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); College of the Atlantic is in Bar Harbor, ME (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of the Atlantic is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Forest College 13:1; College of the Atlantic 9:1.

Lake Forest College vs. College of the Atlantic Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Forest College or College of the Atlantic? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of the Atlantic than Lake Forest College ($21,829 vs. $31,225).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Atlantic are 18.1% lower than at Lake Forest College ($10,404 vs. $12,700).
• Lake Forest College is 17.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Atlantic (about $8,405 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $47,997.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.5% higher at Lake Forest College than at College of the Atlantic (about $8,405 more per year; $56,402.00 vs. $47,997.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Lake Forest College as at College of the Atlantic (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lake Forest College students is 8.8% larger than aid received by College of the Atlantic students ($39,630 vs. $36,437).

Lake Forest College vs. College of the Atlantic Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Forest College or College of the Atlantic? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between College of the Atlantic and Lake Forest College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of the Atlantic (1340) is 50 points higher than at Lake Forest College (1290).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 1190/1393; College of the Atlantic 1240/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lake Forest College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Forest College - Test optional; College of the Atlantic - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Forest College Feb 15, 2027; College of the Atlantic Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman College of the Atlantic students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Lake Forest College (3.62).
• College of the Atlantic has a higher acceptance rate (70.2%) than Lake Forest College (56.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at Lake Forest College vs. 23.4% at College of the Atlantic.

Lake Forest College vs. College of the Atlantic Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Forest College and College of the Atlantic? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• College of the Atlantic's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Lake Forest College's (68%).
• Graduates from Lake Forest College earn a median of about $25,600 more per year than College of the Atlantic graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,800 vs. $28,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Atlantic graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than Lake Forest College graduates ($19,750 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Atlantic graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lake Forest College graduates ($204 vs. $279).
• More Lake Forest College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Atlantic students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.