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How to Get Into Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, IL · Private nonprofit · 2025-2026 cycle · Verified data

Lake Forest College Admissions Statistics

57%
Acceptance Rate
600-713
SAT Reading (mid 50%)
590-680
SAT Math (mid 50%)
28-32
ACT (mid 50%)
1,813
Undergrads
78%
Graduation Rate

How to Actually Get Into Lake Forest College

The bar here is clear

Lake Forest College admits most qualified applicants. Clear the academic bar (the ranges below) and your odds are strong. The real questions become fit, cost, and whether it earns its slot on your list, not whether you can get in.

Position your scores against the real bands

The middle 50% of enrolled students sits around 1190-1393 combined SAT or 28-32 ACT. Above the 75th percentile, scores work for you and this can behave like a target. Below the 25th percentile, the rest of your application has to carry the file, treat it as a reach. Test policy here is "Test-flexible", check the fine print for your specific program.

Use the Early Decision round deliberately

Lake Forest College offers Early Decision, which is binding. The early bump is real but overstated (hooked applicants cluster early and inflate it). Spend ED once, on the school where it actually moves you a tier, and only if the money works without comparing aid offers. If that school is Lake Forest College, the deadline table below is your calendar.

The bigger picture: no single school decides your outcome, the shape of your whole list does. Read how top counselors build a college list before you finalize where Lake Forest College fits.

Lake Forest College Application Deadlines (2025-2026)

Round Deadline
Early Action (EA) November 1, 2025
earlyAction2 January 15, 2026
Early Decision (ED) November 1, 2025
Early Decision II (ED II) January 15, 2026
Regular Decision (RD) February 15, 2026

Deadlines verified from official sources for the 2025-2026 cycle. Rounds change year to year, always confirm on the school's site before submitting.

Application Requirements & Costs

Application platform Common App
Application fee $0
Test scores Test-flexible
Writing supplement Not required
Counselor recommendation Not required
Teacher evaluations 1

Lake Forest College Cost & Financial Aid

Total cost of attendance (sticker, per year) $70,655
Tuition & fees $56,402
Room & board (on campus) $12,700
Average net price (aid-receiving families) $28,673

What You'd Actually Pay, by Family Income

Average net price per year (after grants and scholarships) for aid-receiving families, from federal College Scorecard data:

Family income Average net price / year
$0-30k $19,605
$30-48k $20,210
$48-75k $21,481
$75-110k $26,055
$110k+ $35,341
32%
Students receiving Pell Grants
67%
Students taking federal loans
90%
Freshman retention rate
13:1
Student-faculty ratio

These are averages, not your number. Get your family's actual price in about 10 minutes:

Use Lake Forest College's Official Net Price Calculator →

More Lake Forest College Data, Coming Soon

We're building the deepest per-school database in admissions. Rolling out for Lake Forest College:

Programs & Majors Soon Every degree program at Lake Forest College, with outcomes
Transfer Pathways Soon How to transfer into Lake Forest College, and where transfers come from
Institutional Aid Soon Lake Forest College's own grants and how they're awarded
Private Scholarships Soon Outside scholarships Lake Forest College students actually win

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