Lake Forest College vs Ursinus College
Lake Forest College and Ursinus College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Lake Forest, nestled in the charming town of Lake Forest, Illinois, boasts a higher acceptance rate (68%) compared to Ursinus' selective admissions (49%). While Ursinus students predominantly hail from Pennsylvania, Lake Forest attracts a more diverse student body, with a larger international student population. Ursinus excels in the sciences, with popular majors in biology, chemistry, and neuroscience, while Lake Forest offers strengths in the humanities and social sciences, with popular majors in economics, English, and history. Both colleges boast impressive graduation rates, with Ursinus slightly edging out Lake Forest (86% vs. 83%). Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Lake Forest College |
![]() Ursinus College |
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Overview |
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Location | Lake Forest, Illinois | Collegeville, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 87.0% | 85.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 64.4% | 82.7% |
Application fees | $50 | |
SAT range | 1130 - 1345 | 1200 - 1360 |
ACT range | 26 - 31 | 27 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 26.0% | 34.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 15.0% | 9.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,358 | 3,818 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,808 | 3,158 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 417 | 433 |
Yield rate | 14.9% | 13.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $66,400 | $73,982 |
Average net price | $25,126 | $31,438 |
Tuition | $50,100 | $56,600 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,540
Meal plan:
$5,958
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Room/dormitory:
$9,230
Meal plan:
$4,830
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $38,182 |
100.0%
Average amount $39,622 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
43.0%
Average amount $5,895 |
69.0%
Average amount $5,630 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $15,800 |
16.0%
Average amount $18,143 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,661
Men 41.7% Women 58.3% |
1,556
Men 52.2% Women 47.8% |
Graduate students |
29
Men 34.5% Women 65.5% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 45.4% | 42.4% |
International students | 15.7% | 0.9% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,236 | 1,510 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois Arizona California Colorado Minnesota | Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland New York Connecticut |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 73.0% | 72.5% |
Dropout rate | 4.8% | 27.3% |
Transferred out | 22.2% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
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