Mission Statement
Lake Forest College affirms that education ennobles the individual.
Our curriculum engages students in the breadth of the liberal arts and the depth of traditional disciplines. We encourage students to read critically, reason analytically, communicate persuasively, and, above all, to think for themselves. We prepare our students for, and help them attain, productive and rewarding careers. We foster creative talent and independent research. We embrace cultural diversity. We honor achievement. Our faculty of distinguished scholars takes pride in its commitment to teaching. We know our students by name and prepare them to become responsible citizens of the global community. We enable students, faculty, trustees, and administrators to solve problems in a civil manner, collectively. We maintain a secure residential campus of great beauty. We enrich our curriculum with the vibrant resources of Chicago. Lake Forest College celebrates the personal growth that accompanies the quest for excellence.
Academic Programs
Departments and Programs – Information on programs and majors offered, the requirements of those programs, and the faculty teaching in those programs can be found here.
Any additional questions from prospective students can be addressed to admissions counselors at 847-735-5000. Enrolled students should contact their adviser or the Provost and Dean of Faculty, 847-735-5020.
Accreditation
Lake Forest College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The most recent accreditation process was completed in 2016-2017. The status of the accreditation can be found at this site. The teacher education programs are accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education. A copy of the documents, if required, may be requested from the Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty in North Hall or by calling 847-735-5020.
Contact information for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC):
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois 60604
800-621-7440
Athletic Program Participation
Lake Forest College complies with the requirements of the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) by completing an annual report of participation rates, financial support and other information on men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletic programs. The report is available on the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education Web site.
More information about Lake Forest’s athletic programs, including a printed copy of the EADA report, is available from the Department of Athletics, Halas Hall, 847-735-5285.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Information
This information is contained in the Campus Security Report.
Campus Security Report
The Public Safety department publishes a report annually (by October 1 for the prior year) that discloses relevant information about campus security policies and crime statistics. This report also covers drug and alcohol abuse prevention and prevention of sexual assault. Public Safety also maintains a crime log which is available for public inspection.
Director of the Department of Public Safety, South Campus, 847-735-5555
College Navigator
Lake Forest College’s page on the National Center for Education Statistics’s College Navigator page is available here.
Copyright Infringement
Lake Forest College has copyright and acceptable use policies put in place by the Department of Information Technology. Students are notified of liabilities related to copyright infringement in the student handbook.
Associate Librarian/Head of Public Services, Library, 847-735-5072
Diversity of Enrollment
In Fall 2023, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate enrollment was 1,758. Of these students, 58% were female and 42% were male.
Total full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students in Fall 2023 self-identifying as U.S. citizens or permanent residents and members of a racial or ethnic minority was 31.8% (per IPEDS Race/Ethnicity Definitions).
18.5% identified as Hispanic; 6.3% identified as Asian; 3.4% identified as Black or African American; 0.2% identified as American Indian or Alaska Native; 3.4% identified as two or more races.
Percentages for full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate enrollment in Fall 2023 by other IPEDS Race/Ethnicity categories were: 46.6% identified as White; 18.5% identified as U.S. Nonresidents; 3.1% identified as race and ethnicity unknown.
Director of Institutional Research, North Hall, 847-735-5035
Diversity of Pell Recipients
Fall 2023: Federal Pell Grant recipients comprised 35% of the degree-seeking undergraduate student body. Of these, 61% were female and 39% were male. 57% of the Pell recipients self-identified as members of a racial or ethnic minority, including members of two or more races.
Director of Institutional Research, North Hall, 847-735-5035
Emergency Response and Evacuation
Emergency Response and Evacuation procedures are located within the Lake Forest College Crisis Management Plan.The Crisis Management Plan provides a framework by which the College can effectively and efficiently respond to and manage emergencies, from simple to complex, which may affect its operations.
Director of the Department of Public Safety, South Campus, 847-735-5555
Financial Aid
Types of financial aid available and eligibility requirements are listed on the Financial Aid Department’s Web page.
Additional information regarding scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study which you may have been offered is available on the website. You will find a breakdown of the costs, scholarship renewal requirements, definitions of grants, descriptions of loans, information about the amount you will need to pay, and choices you have in making payment. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 847-735-5103.
IBHE and HLC Complaints
Participants in Title IV Federal Financial Aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, are required to direct students to a state agency for assistance with unresolved complaints. Related regulations require all Title IV participating institutions, regardless of the origin of their state authorization to operate, to comply with state agency complaint process and to communicate such information publicly. Under Federal rule 34 CFR §600.9 and §668.43(b), Title IV eligible institutions must make available to students or prospective students, upon request, a copy of the documents describing the institution’s accreditation and state authorization. The institution must provide its students or prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with its accreditor and the state.
Students can file a complaint with the state of Illinois via the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s (IBHE) Complaint System. Students can also file a complaint with our accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, using their Complaint Procedures.
Graduation Rates
Lake Forest College’s graduation rates for full-time, first-time students entering in Fall 2017 (355) are:
4-year graduation rate: 63.7%
5-year graduation rate: 69.6%
6-year graduation rate: 70.4%
Graduation Rates - disaggregated for 6 year rate
Number in entering cohort is shown in parentheses (355). All presented data is for full-time, first-time students entering in Fall 2017.
Major racial and ethnic subgroups:
Although Lake Forest College enrolls a relatively high percentage of minority students, because of the small size of each class the graduation rate by subgroup is not statistically significant. The overall 6 year graduation rate for U.S. ethnic and racial minorities (102) was 67.6%.
Gender:
Women entering in Fall 2017 (190): 72.1% graduated in 6 years
Men entering in Fall 2017 (165): 68.5% graduated in 6 years
Financial Aid:
Pell recipients (137) had a 68.6% graduation rate.
Recipients of subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, who did not receive a Pell Grant, (72) had a 70.8% graduation rate.
Students who did not receive a Pell or subsidized Stafford Loan (146) had a 71.9% graduation rate.
Director of Institutional Research, North Hall, 847-735-5035.
Graduate Degrees Awarded
Master of Liberal Studies (MLS): 2021 - 1; 2022 - 3; 2023 - 4
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): 2021 - 12; 2022 - 14; 2023 - 15
Graduates - Subsequent Enrollments
Approximately 30% of Lake Forest College graduates from Fall 2005 to Summer 2010 obtained a subsequent degree after completing their degree at Lake Forest College. The vast majority of these degrees are master’s, professional doctorates, and research doctorates. This was assessed in August 2015 using data from the National Student Clearinghouse. For more information about subsequent enrollments, please contact the Director of Institutional Research, North Hall, 847-735-5035.
Graduate and Professional Education Outcomes
Information about graduate and professional education pursued by Lake Forest College graduates can be obtained here.
For more information, please contact the Director of the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center, Brown Hall, 847-735-5235.
Licensure Exam Pass Rates
Information on the edTPA pass rates
Information on the content area test scores
Loan Applications, Deferments and Cancellation
Information about Federal Stafford and PLUS programs is available on this site.
Missing Persons Procedures
The College maintains a specific plan intended to deal with reports of a missing student. Contained in the Office of Student Affairs Emergency Protocols manual, procedure 9.1 provides a framework by which the College will respond to a concern when a student’s whereabouts is reportedly unknown.
Director of the Department of Public Safety, South Campus, 847-735-5555
Tuition, Fees and Expenses
See Tuition
Director of Financial Aid, Patterson Lodge, 847-735-5103
Payment and Refund Policies
See Refund Policies
Director of Student Accounts, North Hall, 847-735-5031
Retention Rates
Second-year retention of full-time, first-time students entering in Fall 2022 was 86.3%.
Services provided to Students with Disabilities
In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Lake Forest College recognizes that qualified students who have diagnosed disabilities, including learning, physical, and psychological disabilities, are entitled to an equal opportunity to benefit from the educational programs of the College and that reasonable academic accommodations may be necessary to provide that opportunity. For more information see our Web site .
Study Abroad
A student’s enrollment in an off-campus program of study approved for credit by Lake Forest College may be considered enrollment at Lake Forest College for the purpose of applying for assistance under title IV HEA programs. For more information about study abroad opportunities, please see the College’s off-campus study page.
Director of Off-Campus Programs, Mohr Student Center, 847-735-5231
Teacher Report Card
Institutional Report Card on the Quality of Teacher Preparation
More information can be found on the Education Department’s Web site
Chair of the Lake Forest College Department of Education, 847-735-5169
Transferring credits into Lake Forest College
Transfer information
Guides to transferring from specific community colleges are on the same page above, on the right hand side, by community college.
Transfer Admissions Counselor, Admissions, 847-735-5009
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Lake Forest College complies with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Registrar, North Hall, 847-735-5025
Vaccination Policies
Requirements for students can be found on the Health and Wellness Center’s website.
Department Assistant, Student Health Center, 847-735-5050
Withdrawal Procedure
Students wishing to withdraw from the College should contact the office of Student Affairs. Procedures are outlined in the Student Handbook.
Associate Dean of Student Affairs, 847-735-5200
Notification of Rights under FERPA for Postsecondary Institutions
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.These rights can be viewed on the FERPA Web site.