Schools
Lake Forest College Makes Money Magazine's Best Colleges List
The publication praised how well the school uses its proximity to Chicago.
Lake Forest, IL—Lake Forest College earned a spot on Money Magazine's annual list of the best U.S. colleges, ranking 283rd.
The school was rated on 24 factors in three categories: educational quality, affordability and post-graduation success. The magazine also "measured comparative value, by assessing how well students at each school did vs. what’s expected for students with similar economic and academic backgrounds, and the college’s mix of majors."
Here's a breakdown of how Lake Forest College fared with some of those factors:
Find out what's happening in Lake Forest-Lake Blufffor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Estimated tuition for 2016-17: $55,700
- Acceptance rate: 55 percent
- Estimated graduation rate: 73 percent
- Average time to earn a degree: 4.1 years
- Average student debt: $27,000
- Average salary within five years: $46,300
"With a campus 30 miles north of Chicago, Lake Forest makes the most of the opportunities and resources the city provides. In fact, it has an on-campus hub—the Center for Chicago Programs—that arranges field trips, brings in speakers, and coordinates academic projects in the city," stated Money's description that ran with the college's ranking. "… And while the city is only an hour’s train ride away, students experience a more bucolic setting on campus with its wooded ravines and proximity to Lake Michigan."
RELATED: Check Out Money Magazine's Complete Rankings of Best Colleges
Find out what's happening in Lake Forest-Lake Blufffor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Lake Forest College's connection to Chicago also was a positive point mentioned in student reviews that accompanied Money's list:
"This school sets itself apart from other national libarts in our conference by emphasizing strong career connections in Chicago and a highly successful alumni network. … I've worked a variety of internships in several countries since the summer after my freshman year and am confident my degree has been well worth the money."
The magazine looked at about 2,000 four-year colleges and universities in the country. Money narrowed that list down to 705 schools after screening out institutions that didn't meet median graduation rates and other factors.
Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
