Hope College vs Lake Forest College
Hope College and Lake Forest College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Hope College, nestled in Holland, Michigan, boasts a higher acceptance rate (78%) compared to Lake Forest College's 62% in Lake Forest, Illinois. While Hope College's student body is predominantly White (79%), Lake Forest College's student body is more diverse, with 58% White, 13% Asian, and 11% Hispanic students. Both colleges offer a wide range of popular majors, including Business, Biology, and Psychology, but Hope College has a slightly higher graduation rate (82%) than Lake Forest College (79%). Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Hope College |
![]() Lake Forest College |
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Overview |
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Location | Holland, Michigan | Lake Forest, Illinois |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 87.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Protestant | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 92.4% | 64.4% |
Application fees | $50 | |
SAT range | 1100 - 1330 | 1130 - 1345 |
ACT range | 24 - 31 | 26 - 31 |
Students submitting SAT score | 45.0% | 26.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 15.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,172 | 4,358 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,854 | 2,808 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 793 | 417 |
Yield rate | 20.6% | 14.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $46,800 | $66,400 |
Average net price | $28,688 | $25,126 |
Tuition | $36,300 | $50,100 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,020
Meal plan:
$6,380
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Room/dormitory:
$5,540
Meal plan:
$5,958
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
98.0%
Average amount $21,987 |
100.0%
Average amount $38,182 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
48.0%
Average amount $5,148 |
43.0%
Average amount $5,895 |
Students taking out private loans |
8.0%
Average amount $15,533 |
4.0%
Average amount $15,800 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,132
Men 38.5% Women 61.5% |
1,661
Men 41.7% Women 58.3% |
Graduate students | N/A |
29
Men 34.5% Women 65.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 45.4% |
International students | 2.3% | 15.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,472 | 1,236 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Illinois Arizona California Colorado Minnesota |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 80.6% | 73.0% |
Dropout rate | 19.2% | 4.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | 22.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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