Business at Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Commerce, General
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,283/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 2.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #229 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $547K $543K $500K
Earnings Multiple 2.5x 2.5x 2.3x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$216,808
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$109,996
49% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,360
30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,283/yr, Business graduates from Lake Forest College land near the $48,211 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The financial case is thin at 2.5x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Business's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $44,283 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #229 of 242 Business programs, Lake Forest College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $44,283 to $57,360 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Lake Forest College

Lake Forest College accepts 59% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, a compact campus enrolling 1,782 students in Lake Forest, IL. The average net cost of $109,996 over four years represents a 49% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Lake Forest College →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Sales managers $138,060/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
View all 16 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business at Lake Forest College?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Business. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Business careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $500,010 in decade earnings vs $547,046 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →