First-year deadlines, 2026–27
| Plan | Deadline | Decision by |
|---|---|---|
| Early action Apply early, hear early, not binding. | November 1, 2026 | December 15, 2026 |
| Early decision Apply early, hear early, and you must enroll if admitted. Binding. | November 1, 2026 | December 15, 2026 |
| Early action II A second, later early action round. Not binding. | January 15, 2027 | February 1, 2027 |
| Early decision II A second, later early decision round. Also binding. | January 15, 2027 | February 1, 2027 |
| Regular decision The standard deadline, with answers in spring. Not binding. | February 15, 2027 | April 1, 2027 |
Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean
Source: lakeforest.edu · checked September 30, 2026
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price after grants, all students, by family income
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026
Biggest majors
| Major | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business/Commerce | 59 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 37 |
| Biology/Biological Sciences | 30 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 28 |
| Neuroscience | 26 |
| Political Science and Government | 23 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 20 |
| English Language and Literature | 19 |
Show the other 25 majors
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 19 |
| Finance | 18 |
| Environmental Studies | 16 |
| Computer Science | 13 |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 12 |
| History | 10 |
| Art/Art Studies | 9 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies | 9 |
| Chemistry | 8 |
| Physics | 8 |
| Philosophy | 7 |
| Music | 5 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation | 5 |
| Data Analytics, Other | 5 |
| Education | 5 |
| Statistics | 4 |
| Spanish Language and Literature | 4 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Other | 4 |
| International Relations and Affairs | 3 |
| African-American/Black Studies | 3 |
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts | 2 |
| Mathematics | 2 |
| Asian Studies/Civilization | 2 |
| French Language and Literature | 1 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 1 |
Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026
Scholarships
Amounts and eligibility change; check the college’s page for current details.
Sports and campus life
Men’s varsity · NCAA Division III, Midwest Conference
Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field (Indoor), Track and Field (Outdoor)
Women’s varsity · NCAA Division III, Midwest Conference
Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field (Indoor), Track and Field (Outdoor), Volleyball
Faith groups
Cru, Hillel, InterVarsity, Newman Connection
Also
Study abroad
Greek life
7% of men in fraternities · 8% of women in sororities · 8% of undergraduates overall (Common Data Set 2023–24)
Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), Common Data Set (Greek life), hillel.org · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026
The place
Setting
Suburb, large
Federal locale classification
Metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
9,408,576 people
Big-city metro (1 million+)
Yes
More about the place
Nearest airport
Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
Nearest hub airport
Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
Walkability
EPA walkability index 7.2 of 20
Elevation
668 ft
Time zone
Central
January low
16°F
July high
82°F
Annual snowfall
33.6 in
Days at 90°F or higher
11 per year
One-bedroom fair market rent
$2,620 per month
Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026
Colleges nearby
- Trinity International University-Illinois4 mi
- Northwestern University16 mi
- Hebrew Theological College17 mi
- Loyola University Chicago19 mi
- Northeastern Illinois University19 mi
- North Park University20 mi
Straight-line distance between campuses
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