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Lake Forest City HallPhoto: Teemu08 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Lake Forest

Lake Forest is home to Lake Forest College

Lake Forest College (1,818 students on campus) is inside the city, and Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (1,911) is 4.5 miles from the center, in North Chicago. About 11% of Lake Forest’s residents are enrolled in college, above Illinois (6%).

Lake Forest CollegeRosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Lake Forest. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
18,590 students on campus
Nearest college
1.8 mi
Lake Forest College
Residents in college
11%
Above IL (6%)
Nearest community college
11.4 mi
College of Lake County · $4,788 tuition
Nearest public university
19 mi
Northeastern Illinois University · $12,383 in-state
Median household income
$235K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Lake Forest

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 4.5 milesLake Forest College admits 57% of applicants. Together they have 3,729 students on campus.A community college 11.4 miles awayCollege of Lake County in Grayslake: tuition and fees $4,788 a year for Illinois residents.In-state price at Northeastern Illinois UniversityLiving in Illinois, Northeastern Illinois University charges $12,383 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,726. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 11% of residentsAbove Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lake Forest

Four private colleges within 8 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Northeastern Illinois University, is 19 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miCollege of Lake CountyOakton CollegeRosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceLake Forest
University or collegeCommunity college
Lake Forest CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,818 on campus · In Lake Forest57%admitted$29knet price78%graduate$62kearningsTrinity International University-IllinoisUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 520 on campus · 2.9 mi · Deerfield100%admitted$3knet price46%graduate$47kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,911 on campus · 4.5 mi · North ChicagoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of Saint Mary of the LakeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 173 on campus · 8 mi · MundeleinGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.College of Lake CountyCommunity college · Public · 9,144 on campus · 11.4 mi · Grayslake$8knet price37%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $4,788 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Oakton CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,024 on campus · 12 mi · Des Plaines$5knet price37%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $3,985 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Lake Forest’s median household income ($235,081) falls.

College of Lake County11.4 mi · Grayslake · sticker $12,694 · tuition $4,788$11,025a year
Oakton College12 mi · Des Plaines · sticker $11,431 · tuition $3,985$11,431a year
Northeastern Illinois University19 mi · Chicago · sticker $26,960$25,001a year
Lake Forest CollegeIn Lake Forest · sticker $70,655$35,341a year
Trinity International University-Illinois2.9 mi · Deerfield · sticker $16,515—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Lake Forest CollegeTrinity International University-IllinoisCollege of Lake CountyOakton CollegeNortheastern Illinois University
College of Lake County37% graduate$43k earnings$9k typical debt
Oakton College37% graduate$48k earnings$5k typical debt
Northeastern Illinois University22% graduate$52k earnings$15k typical debt
Lake Forest College78% graduate$62k earnings$26k typical debt
Trinity International University-Illinois46% graduate$47k earnings*$26k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Trinity International University-Illinois (2).

Majors

What students study in Lake Forest

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Lake Forest College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 24%Social sciences 15%Biology 14%Psychology 11%Computer science 7%Communication 5%Everything else 24%

Biggest programs

Business/Commerce, General47 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services31 graduates a year
$99k4 yrs out
Biology, General26 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics23 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
English Language and Literature, General18 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Political Science and Government18 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Lake Forest

Is Lake Forest a college town?

No. About 11 of every 100 Lake Forest residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, Lake Forest College, has 1,818 students on campus.

What colleges are in Lake Forest?

Lake Forest College is inside the city. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is 4.5 miles from the center, in North Chicago, and College of Lake County is 11.4 miles away in Grayslake.

What is the closest community college to Lake Forest, and what does it cost?

College of Lake County in Grayslake, 11.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,788 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $7,607, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Northeastern Illinois University cost if we live in Illinois?

Tuition and fees are $12,383 a year in-state and $22,726 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $13,709 (under $30,000 income) to $25,001 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Lake Forest. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →