Lake Forest College
Just outside Chicago, the quaint town of Lake Forest is home to a quintessential small, liberal arts college. Lake Forest College prioritizes meeting students where they are, starting with the admissions process. Most students interview, which gives them the chance to meet their admissions counselor, and gives the counselor the opportunity to advise them individually.
57% of applicants were admitted last year with an average GPA of 3.7. One in four applicants submitted standardized tests, averaging 1300 (SAT) and 30 (ACT). Application review is holistic, taking into account a student’s academic experiences as well as their extracurricular life and their admissions interview. Early Action and Early Decision are both offered in addition to Regular Decision, and scholarships are generous. Students who have diverse academic curiosity, an interest in exploring career paths early, and a willingness to get involved will thrive at Lake Forest College.
Only half of Lake Forest students come from Illinois, with the rest representing over 40 states and 100 countries. Despite the small town location, the diverse student body takes advantage of a suburban campus with access to a major urban center. Students take the train into Chicago for social reasons as well as summer and semester-long residential, academic and professional opportunities. They can spend a semester living and studying “In the Loop” or a summer interning with a Chicago company, then head back to campus to rejoin the traditions among the close-knit residential community. Lake Forest College truly offers the best of both settings.
One in four students pursues double majors, and minors are easy to add, making the curriculum incredibly customizable. Studying abroad and off campus is encouraged with hundreds of programs supported in over 70 countries. Classes are small and interactive, and faculty are invested in their students’ success. Students have access to research projects supported by professors.
Lake Forest stands out for its exceptional Career Advancement Center, helping students translate their academic experiences into meaningful career paths. Each student is included in programming focused on career prep beginning in their first semester. They are placed in Career Pathway cohorts for advising in their fields of interest and work together all four years. Job fairs and mock interviews prepare students to connect with employers for internships, summer opportunities, and their first jobs post-graduation.
The Krebs Center for the Humanities is a unique asset—part art museum, part interactive humanities classroom, part AI incubator—students are doing cutting-edge work in this workspace just around the corner from campus. Lake Forest also offers a minor in entrepreneurship and support for student-driven entrepreneurial projects. There is a focus on fostering leadership among students via the Gates Center for Leadership and Personal Growth.
Lake Forest offers 25 Varsity DIII teams, which means athletes are scholars first and no athletic scholarships are offered, but they’re competitive within their conference and draw crowds of students at their games. Fraternities and sororities are present on campus, but don’t dominate the social scene. 80 clubs and organizations provide ample opportunity for students to stay busy, including participating in community service projects.
The campus is picturesque and walkable—totally worth a visit if you’re in the Chicagoland area and interested in a liberal arts program that feels traditional and pragmatic at the same time.
Who would thrive at Lake Forest College?
Successful students at Lake Forest have multiple academic interests, whether separately, or ideas they’re looking to blend together. They prioritize career preparation and they take advantage of the duality of a residential college with a major city nearby. They are curious about differences comfortable in a multicultural community.
Famous Alumni:
Allan Carr – Broadway and film producer (Grease) and Tony Award winner (The Birdcage)
Diana Nyad – World‑record long‑distance swimmer and motivational speaker/commentator
Nate Berkus – Designer and TV personality
Dave Beran – Michelin-starred chef, taught Jeremy Allen White to cook for “The Bear”
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