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Lake Forest College is a private, coeducational liberal arts institution located in Lake Forest, Illinois. Established in 1857 by Presbyterian ministers, the school was originally known as Lind University before adopting its current name 1965. Lake Forest College has been coeducational since the late 1870s and became an undergraduate-focused liberal arts institution in 1903. Today, Lake Forest College is recognized as one of the Best Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News & World Report as well as a “Best Midwestern College” (The Princeton Review) and was ranked among the top schools with the “Best Return on Investment” by Payscale.com. Located a beautiful 107 acre area, Lake Forest College boasts three campuses which are divided by wooded ravines. The College’s grounds feature classic 19th and 20th Century architecture and an abundance of trees and green spaces has been a popular place to film movies.
Academic Programs
Lake Forest College mission declares that “education ennobles the individual.” Lake Forest College’s mission statement continues, “Our curriculum engages students in the breadth of the liberal arts and the depth of traditional disciplines. We encourage students to read critically, reason analytically, communicate persuasively, and, above all, to think for themselves.” Lake Forest College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and has been so since 1913.Lake Forest College offers more than 30 majors with several minor and special program options. Undergraduate students may declare up to two majors with a single minor or one major and two minors. Areas of study include the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Lake Forest College follows an academic calendar which includes two 15-week semesters plus three 4-week terms during the summer session. Off-campus study is encouraged with more than 200 programs offered in more than 65 countries. Students also have access to a wide range of internships which are available in the Chicago area, nationwide and abroad.
Student Life
Lake Forest College has a total enrollment figure of approximately 1,600, the vast majority of whom are undergraduate students. Representatives from nearly all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands make up the student body along with students from more than 75 foreign countries. Located only half a mile away from Lake Michigan and only 30 miles north of downtown Chicago, students enjoy access to a wide range of cultural, academic, and recreational opportunities. Lake Forest College’s Center for Chicago Program’s mission is to connect students to the many “educational and cultural riches” of Chicago. The Center plays an integral part in both the student and faculty experience at Lake Forest College.More than 90 student organizations are recognized by Lake Forest College, catering to a wide range of cultural, academic, and personal interests. These and other campus events and activities provide students with ample opportunity to interact and connect with one another outside of the classroom. An NCAA Division III school, Lake Forest College fields nearly twenty men’s and women’s sports teams which compete in the Midwest Conference.