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Business/Commerce, General at Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

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/Commerce, General 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/Commerce, General 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/Commerce, General'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/Commerce, General 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/Commerce, General at Lake Forest College?

A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Business/Commerce, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Business/Commerce, General 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 →