Make Yourself Known. Make Your Own Way. Make It Personal. 

Make It Here

Bring us your talents and passions, your curiosity and your drive, and we'll give you the tools you need to build your dream career.

At Lake Forest College, we are dedicated to elevating students from dreamers to doers. Here, students take classes to nurture and discover their passions. Our community embraces career preparation at its finest, with access to top internships in and around the great city of Chicago. In every field of study, we will help students make opportunities to excel.

Get the best of both worlds: an idyllic lakeshore campus near the opportunity and culture of the third-largest city in the US. Lake Forest College is committed to helping students achieve their dream careers through pragmatic experience and guided preparation. With hands-on research, nationally ranked internship access, and dynamic classroom settings that foster supportive relationships between students and professors, this is the liberal arts at its finest. 

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend

Feel the Forester spirit! It's time to celebrate how the College helped us become who we are today. Connect with students, alumni, faculty, and more at Homecoming on October 6-7. Register now for food, drinks, and good vibes.

#27 Overall
Top 100 Colleges Wall Street Journal
#13 BEST
Value College U.S. News & World Report
#2 BEST
Science Lab Facilities The Princeton Review
#1 for
Social Mobility U.S. News & World Report

Fine Arts at Lake Forest College

At Lake Forest College, the fine arts are an instrumental part of the cultural richness of campus. We encourage all students to integrate their passions into their studies and explore means of artistic expression. Practicing the fine arts enhances a Forester's connection to the wider world and helps us find our place in it.

#1 for Social Mobility - U.S. News & World Report

We're #1!

U.S. News & World Report rated Lake Forest College top in the nation for Social Mobility in its most recent rankings report. The #1 Social Mobility title ranks a college’s success in graduating students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. U.S. News also rated Lake Forest College the #13 Best Value national liberal arts college. 

Read the whole story here

Make connections in a big city the Chicago skyline at sunset

With one foot planted firmly in the Loop and the other in Lake Forest, we ensure that our students grow into the world around them so they can help change it. Chicago has always been a city of innovation: birthplace of the skyscraper, home of the first elevated train, and host to world-class cuisine, Chicago is a place to get to know the world as you launch your future.

Our proximity to the city means more than access to thrilling theater productions, worldly museums, and weekend fun. It also grants students passage to the bigger picture. Internship and career opportunities that prime students for a lifetime of success are right at our doorstep. Discover the possibilities of Chicago as a hub of culture, business, and innovation.



Our Chicago Connections »


Sustainability Across Campus

Lake Forest College integrates environmentally sustainable practices on campus and assists others in their quest to effect positive change in the world.

aerial view of campus in the fall

Making sense of financial aid and the value of a college education

There is no getting around the fact that college comes with a price tag. However, it’s important to understand that higher education is first and foremost an investment in your future—you receive the value of the education you invest in.

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Make a career after college

We help students think beyond classes and homework and into their future careers. Our degree programs focus on securing jobs or graduate program placements after graduation. Whether students come to us with big ideas about their next steps or passion they need to find a place for, our Career Advancement team is ready to help them achieve great things after college. 

The Class of 2022 has a job placement rate of 97%

Through our nationally recognized Career Pathways program, the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center empowers students by providing essential skills, experiences, and networks that will help them pursue meaningful careers. Chicago is home to over 400 major corporate headquarters (including 36 in the Fortune 500), countless museums, theaters, consulates, and more where students can make connections for professional success.

Learn more about our nationally ranked Career Advancement Center »

Virtual Campus Tour

Virtual Tour