Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, IL 1,813 Undergrads 77.2% Grad Rate

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Total Cost

$70,655

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$28,673

After Aid

Median Earnings

$62,893

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$28,673

Peer Midpoint: $20,081

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation

$62,893

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment

$61,825

Peer Midpoint: $53,763

Graduation Rate77.2%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Average Starting Age19.9

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients33.7%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time98.9%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS78.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

56.8%

SAT Avg

1,343

SAT Reading

25th: 60061875th: 713

SAT Math

25th: 59062075th: 680

ACT Composite

25th: 282975th: 32

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$559k

+$92k

+$74k

Median Cost$29k/yr

+$456k

-$11k

-$29k

Full Cost$71k/yr

+$304k

-$162k

-$180k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$29k/yr

Never

-28%

Full Cost$71k/yr

Never

-71%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-41%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-76%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Area Studies

BachCIP: 0501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $56,625

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

$48,287

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

-$148k

Business/Commerce, General

BachCIP: 5201

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

$74,632

Natl Median: $68,407

Lifetime Value Added

+$62k

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

$64,580

Natl Median: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

-$16k

Computer Science

BachCIP: 1107

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

$77,554

Natl Median: $107,009

Lifetime Value Added

+$84k

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (5yr)

$73,747

Natl Median: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

+$44k

Education, General

BachCIP: 1301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,808

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

$25,707

Earnings (4yr)

$58,901

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

-$61k

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

BachCIP: 0502

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,710

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Finance and Financial Management Services

BachCIP: 5208

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

$98,583

Natl Median: $83,343

Lifetime Value Added

+$245k

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$25,967

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

-$332k

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

International Relations and National Security Studies

BachCIP: 4509

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,596

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

BachCIP: 2401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,072

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

BachCIP: 0301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,012

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

BachCIP: 2615

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,451

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physics

BachCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

$61,770

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

-$38k

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

$54,270

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$98k

Religion/Religious Studies

BachCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,390

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

$52,598

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

-$112k

Social Sciences, Other

BachCIP: 4599

Median Debt

$26,500

Earnings (4yr)

$53,438

Natl Median: $56,812

Lifetime Value Added

-$105k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

BachCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,389

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Master's Degrees

Education, General

MastCIP: 1301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,824

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

MastCIP: 2401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,716

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.