How to Read Your Award Letter

Your Award Letter begins with information about the costs we estimate you will incur. All figures assume full-time enrollment, unless otherwise noted. “Direct Costs” will appear on your billing statement. Your actual costs may vary, based on your housing, enrollment, year in school, and other factors. Standard, direct costs for the year are:

¹ Estimated, until final action by the Board of Trustees in December.
²  There are other room options, each with different pricing. 

In addition to these direct costs, your initial bill will include the cost of the College’s health insurance (as of 11/1/20, cost is $1875 for coverage from August to August). Waive coverage for the 2020-2021 academic year. The 2021-2022 waiver will be available in June.

“Indirect Costs” will not appear on your bill, but should be anticipated. While your cost may differ, we suggest you budget the following:

Estimated 2020-2021 Figures:

Books  …………………….$1000
Personal Expenses  ….……1742
Travel  ……………..………..1050         

For a full list of tuition and fees click here.

Estimated 2021-2022 Figures:

Books  …………………….$1000
Personal Expenses  ….……1840
Travel  ……………..………..1060   

Here you will see the funds you qualify to receive from all known sources. All figures assume full-time enrollment, unless otherwise noted. They were determined by the applications you submitted and guidelines of both the College and the U.S. Department of Education.

This section summarizes the estimated amount your family will pay for the year and the choices you have in making payment to the College. Your billing statement will provide official figures. Billing Statements are available online after receiving your deposit beginning in June (for fall semester) and in December for the spring. The $200 is retained by the College, and refunded after graduation. 

Payment in full and on time ensures that you will avoid late fees and keep your chosen classes. Payment may be made by check, wire transfer, credit card (service fee applies), or EFT.

Estimated Payment

This section begins with our estimate of the amount your family will pay, with and without loans. Loan fees until 10/1/21 Stafford Loans, 1.057%; PLUS Loans, 4.248%) and the cost of health insurance are not included in our calculation.  

If you have been offered work-study, your earnings are paid directly to you by check, so funds are not included in our calculation of the amount you owe.

Payment Options

Option 1: Make one payment each semester. While the amount you pay each
semester will be similar, a mandatory health insurance fee will appear on the fall semester’s bill. However, the health insurance can be waived by completing the online insurance waiver by the deadline. 

Option 2: Enroll in an approved monthly payment plan. Payment plans are available in fall-only, spring-only, or full-year options. The deadline to enroll in a fall or full-year payment plan is June 15^th. Payments are expected on the 15^th of each month. There is an enrollment fee for each payment plan option. Late fees are applied each month for late or missed payments.

There is an enrollment fee each year (est. $90). No interest is charged. 

Option 3: Your parent uses a federal loan to cover your costs, with credit approval required. Applications are available in mid-June.

Option 4: You may use a private loan, if you have a credit-worthy co-signor who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Option 5: You customize a plan to fit your budget, by combining
the monthly payment plan and an additional loan.

Contact Student Accounts with questions at 847-735-5032 or
studentaccounts@lakeforest.edu. Payment plans and options: lakeforest.afford.com. 

Please note these details about your financial aid, including conditions related to your financial aid, the documents you may need to provide, and similar notes. The most issues (and forms you may need) are found below. 

Most forms can be scanned and sent by email (preferred method) to finaid@lakeforest.edu. They can also be faxed (847-735-5103) or sent by regular mail. Need help with something else? Call 847-735-5010 or -5103 or finaid@lakeforest.edu. 

Need a special form, not found below?  Click here for more.

Citizenship: to document citizenship, send a .pdf of your Certificate of Naturalization or signed U.S. passport to finaid@lakeforest.edu. 

FAFSA is needed, but you completed it? Add Lake Forest. New FAFSA?

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) is the best way to complete the verification process. It transfers the required financial values (ex: AGI, tax paid, exemptions, etc.) from your federal tax return to your FAFSA.

If you cannot use the DRT, you can provide a signed copy of your 2019 federal tax return or provide a 2019 Tax Return Transcript (we recommend “Request Online” if you are able).

Permanent Residents: to document permanent resident status, send a .pdf of your “Green Card” to finaid@lakeforest.edu. 

Selective Service: register here or confirm your registration

Signature needed on the FAFSA? Here’s how.

Tax Return Transcript: available online (in real time) or have it mailed to you. Both available from here. We recommend the option to “Request Online” (access in 10-20 minutes) if you are able.

Verification Worksheets, 2021-2022 academic year

V-1   coming soon    

V-4   and   V-5        please contact our office.

Verification Worksheets, 2020-2021 academic year

V-1 for dependent      V-1 for independent 

V-4   and   V-5        please contact our office.

W-2 needed? Send a clear copy for the year requested. If you did not work, please contact our office for instructions.

Here you will see what steps you may need to take once you decide to enroll at the College, including:

• submit any missing documents
• secure your place with a non-refundable deposit
• contact us if you will receive funds from any outside source
• complete the loan application (available June-Aug for Fall ’20), if you will use the Stafford Loan
• complete the work-study application (available late spring or early summer) if you were offered funds and are interested in working on campus; placement is not guaranteed
• other details and links are found here.