Lake Forest College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Lake Forest College charges a net price of $28,673/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $114,692. Graduates earn a median $61,825 ten years after entry, $13,465/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8.5 years — a 20-year net return of $154,608, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Lake Forest College's 8.5-year payback ranks #716 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 44% of them, and #28 of 116 in Illinois.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $28,673/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $114,692 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $61,825 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $13,465/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,158 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 8.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $154,608 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Lake Forest College's own numbers. Net price $28,673 × 4 years = $114,692 total. Median earnings $61,825 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $13,465 a year of premium. $114,692 ÷ $13,465 = 8.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $154,608. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Lake Forest College students graduate with?
A median $26,158 in federal loans among completers, or 42% of the $61,825 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Lake Forest College students graduate?
78% finish their degree. Spread the $114,692 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $147,041 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Lake Forest College expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $28,673 net price runs $14,923 above the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, or $59,692 more across the full degree.