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Lake Forest, IL · Wheaton, IL
| Lake Forest College | Wheaton College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $28,673/yr | $26,975/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $19,605/yr | $20,001/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $26,158 | $23,250 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $20,210/yr | $18,587/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $21,481/yr | $20,553/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $26,055/yr | $24,176/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $35,341/yr | $33,435/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $277/mo | $246/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,700/yr | $13,010/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $12,700/yr | $12,868/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,350/yr | $936/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,048/yr | $2,560/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $70,655/yr | $59,263/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $56,402/yr | $45,546/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $56,402/yr | $45,546/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 32% | 22% |
| Students taking federal loans | 67% | 43% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 57% | 87% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1190–1393 | 1260–1470 |
| SAT average | 1343 | 1380 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 28–32 | 28–32 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 28–34 · Math 23–30 | English 27–34 · Math 25–31 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 4,811 | 1,866 |
| Students accepted | 2,858 | 1,679 |
| Students who enrolled | 425 | 553 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 15% | 33% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 16% | 26% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 11% | 19% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 78% | 85% |
| Freshmen who come back | 90% | 93% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $61,825/yr | $63,756/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $41,213–$88,777 | $38,482–$91,183 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 79% | 88% |
| White students graduating | 77% | 87% |
| Black students graduating | 73% | 64% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 75% | 79% |
| Asian students graduating | 83% | 87% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $51,324/yr | $50,270/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 80% | 74% |
| Graduate on time | 70% | 76% |
| Pell students who graduate | 76% | 84% |
| First-gen students who finish | 73% | 82% |
| Low-income students who finish | 79% | 86% |
| Students who transfer out | 16% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $58,610/yr | $58,108/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 24% · Social Sciences 15% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 14% | Social Sciences 19% · Business, Management & Marketing 12% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 12% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 24% of degrees | Social Sciences — 19% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Social Sciences — 15% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 12% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 14% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 12% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 11% of degrees | English Language & Literature — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Finance and Financial Management Services — $61,264/yr | Computer Science — $81,470/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 27% | 23% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,813 | 2,121 |
| Students per professor | 13 : 1 | 10 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 23 | 724 |
| Average professor pay | $9,044/mo | $10,473/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 63% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $59,959 | $89,742 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Lake Forest, IL | Wheaton, IL |
| Region | Great Lakes | Great Lakes |
| Founded | 1857 | 1860 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 20% | 4.2% |
| Men | 43% | 46% |
| Women | 57% | 54% |
| White students | 47% | 67% |
| Black students | 2.6% | 3.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 18% | 8.7% |
| Asian students | 6.2% | 8.8% |
| Two or more races | 3.6% | 5.9% |
| Other / not reported | 2.8% | 1.9% |
| Special type | None | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 25% | No data reported |
| Part-time students | 1.1% | 1.5% |
| Students age 25+ | 2.6% | 0.8% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $11,874/yr | $18,388/yr |
| Endowment | $123.5M | $610.1M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,335 | 2,116 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,000/yr | $7,280/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $6,480/yr | $5,110/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 21 meals/week | 18 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | No data reported | Undenominational |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 23 | 17 |
| Student athletes | 509 | 502 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $4.6M | $6.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $4.6M | $6.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $94,497 | $144,671 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.