Lake Forest College Acceptance Rate
Lake Forest, Illinois · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 4,811
- Admitted
- 2,858
- Yield
- 14.9%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Lake Forest College's acceptance rate has risen from 55.2% in 2014–15 to 59.4% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 3,451 to 4,811 (+39%) over that period.
Its 59.4% rate makes Lake Forest College more selective than about 75% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 50 tracked Illinois schools, it is more selective than about 74%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (62.1% for women vs 55.9% for men, a 6.2-point gap). Lake Forest College has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 14.9% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 3,451 | 1,905 | 55.2% | 416 |
| 2015–16 | 3,373 | 1,855 | 55% | 358 |
| 2016–17 | 4,227 | 2,407 | 56.9% | 363 |
| 2017–18 | 4,303 | 2,280 | 53% | 357 |
| 2018–19 | 4,147 | 2,402 | 57.9% | 389 |
| 2019–20 | 4,739 | 2,616 | 55.2% | 379 |
| 2020–21 | 4,482 | 2,582 | 57.6% | 388 |
| 2021–22 | 4,358 | 2,808 | 64.4% | 417 |
| 2022–23 | 4,665 | 2,786 | 59.7% | 445 |
| 2023–24 | 4,811 | 2,858 | 59.4% | 425 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 2,709 | 1,682 | 62.1% |
| Men | 2,102 | 1,176 | 55.9% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 590–685 | 16% |
| SAT Math | 580–680 | |
| ACT Composite | 28–31 | 11% |
How Lake Forest College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Lake Forest College's acceptance rate?
Lake Forest College's acceptance rate is 59.4% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,858 admitted of 4,811 applicants).
Is Lake Forest College test optional?
Lake Forest College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Lake Forest College?
Lake Forest College received 4,811 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,858.
What SAT score do you need for Lake Forest College?
Admitted students at Lake Forest College typically scored 590–685 on SAT Reading/Writing and 580–680 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Lake Forest College getting harder to get into?
Lake Forest College has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 55.2% in 2014–15 to 59.4% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.lakeforest.edu/.