Reputation, Rankings, and Facts

In addition, the Journal ranked Lake Forest College #22 for Student Experience, #23 for Social Mobility, and #75 for Salary Impact.

This year the  Journal based its rankings on how much each school improves on-time graduation for its students and the impact a degree from each school has on graduates’ salaries.

The newspaper updated its ranking methodology, noting that “colleges aren’t just rewarded for their raw performance in traditional metrics; rather, they’re also evaluated against a benchmark that shows how the schools improve the trajectories of their students’ careers.”

• The New York Times ranked Lake Forest College #13 on its latest list of the Top US Colleges With The Greatest Economic Diversity. The Times released its College-Access Index, a list of the country’s most-selective universities ranked in order of economic  diversity, in September 2023.

• Forbes ranked Lake Forest #20 on its list of the nation’s 25 Private Colleges That Give Out Generous Financial Aid. The College “awarded more than $20 million to the 2021 first-year class, where 100% of students benefited from institutional financial support,” according to its annual list released in August 2023. 

• The Princeton Review also recommended Lake Forest College in its annual college guide,  The Best 389 Colleges: 2024 Edition released in August 2023, naming Lake Forest a  Best Regional College.

Lake Forest College also was named to  The Princeton Review's 2023 Best Value Colleges list. This list aims to highlight schools with stellar academics, strong career prospects for their graduates, and affordable cost via generous financial aid.

In The Best 389 Colleges guide, The Princeton Review ranked Lake Forest College  #2 for Best Science Lab Facilities,  #2 for Best Health Services,  #3 for Best Student Support and Counseling Services, #13 for Most Accessible Professors, #18 for Best School for Internships,  #19 for Best Career Services,  #22 for Best-Run Colleges, and #24 for Best Quality of Life.

“Our selection of colleges for this book reflects our high opinion of the schools: we recommend each one as academically outstanding,” said Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review and lead author of  The Best 389 Colleges. “Our ranking lists reflect the opinions of the school’s students—their customers—and their reports to us about their campus experiences.”

• U.S. News & World Report rated Lake Forest College #2  in the nation for  Social Mobility, up from #3 last year, and #16  on the Best Value list, up five positions from last year, in its report released on September 12, 2022. Overall, U.S. News ranked Lake Forest College  #85  on its list of the   Best National Liberal Arts Colleges.

The   Social Mobility  designation measures and ranks a college’s success in graduating students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Ranking second in the nation in this category is a particular point of pride for Lake Forest College, which has long emphasized its accessibility and affordability to highly motivated students from all backgrounds.

For its   Best Value  list, U.S. News  evaluated a school’s academic quality and net cost of attendance for a student who received the average level of need-based financial aid.

Lake Forest College has experienced a consistent upward trend in national rankings over the past several years, reflecting the College’s continued focus on providing a rigorous undergraduate education that prepares students for meaningful and rewarding careers.

Facts and Figures

Location

Lake Forest College is located in the suburban town of Lake Forest, a half mile from Lake Michigan and 30 miles north of downtown Chicago. The College’s 107 acres are spread out across three campuses that are divided by wooded ravines. It is home to more than 250 species of naturalized plants and 187 bird species.

With classic 19th and 20th Century architecture, mature oak trees, and numerous green spaces, the College has been and remains a popular place to film movies.

Student Body

• Our students come from 43 states, Washington D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 120 countries.
• 32% of domestic students identify as students of color
• 18% are international students
• More than 40 languages are spoken on campus

Faculty

Lake Forest professors regularly include undergraduates in their primary research and supervise independent research projects.

They receive fellowships and grants from such notable organizations as the Fulbright Program, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Endowment for the Humanities, Freeman Foundation, Mellon Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Getty Trust, Goldsmith Foundation, and Kemper Foundation.

Areas of Study

The College has 32 majors, plus minors and special programs. Students can declare up to two majors and one minor, or one major and two minors.

Academic Year

The year includes two 15-week semesters and three four-week terms in the summer session.

Off-Campus Study

Participating in an off-campus program, whether to study, intern, research, or volunteer, can be a life-changing experience and is highly encouraged at Lake Forest. Students may participate for credit in a total of two semester-long programs chosen from our list of 200+  programs in 70 countries. The programs on this list may be sponsored by Lake Forest College, the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, or one of several trusted program providers.

Internships

The College was ranked #14 on The Princeton Review’s list of Top 20 Schools for Internships (Private Schools) in  The Best 387 Colleges: 2022 Edition, based on students’ ratings of accessibility of internship placement at their school. In recent years, students have held internships with such organizations as The Art Institute of Chicago, Abbott Laboratories, the American Writers Museum, Chicago Botanic Garden, CDW, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Goldman Sachs, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Morgan Stanley, Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, the Shedd Aquarium, StarCom, Stout Advisory, University of Chicago Medicine, University of Chicago Press, and WNBA Chicago Sky.

Community Education

The College serves adults living in the region through the Office of Community Education. The College currently offers a  Master of Liberal Studies (M/LS) program and Master’s of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program.

Center for Chicago Programs

The Center for Chicago Programs connects Lake Forest students to the educational and cultural riches of Chicago both on campus and in the city. The Center is an integral part of the student and faculty experience at the College.

Athletics

Lake Forest has 25 Division III teams, including 12 women’s (basketball, cross country, distance indoor track, distance outdoor track, golf, handball, ice hockey, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, and lacrosse) and 11 men’s (basketball, cross country, distance indoor track, distance outdoor track, football, golf, handball, ice hockey, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and lacrosse). Many students are also involved in club or intramural sports.

Team name: Foresters
School mascot: Boomer the Bear
School colors: Red and black

Alumni

The College and its Alumni Board host events around the country. More than 13,000 alumni, in 63 countries and all 50 states, participate in student mentor programs, assist with internships, and support the College through donations.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Lake Forest College admits students regardless of their ability to pay, so that qualified students from all economic backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue their academic goals. Lake Forest is committed to meeting as much of a student’s demonstrated financial need as possible, which may include a combination of federal/state/college grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. The College offers several merit-based scholarships, recognizing academic achievement, talent, and community engagement.