Head-to-head comparison
Lake Forest College vs Trinity Christian College: which has better ROI?
Option A Lake Forest, IL
Lake Forest College
- Net price / year
- $28,673
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,825
- Payback
- 8.5 yrs
Option B Palos Heights, IL
Trinity Christian College
- Net price / year
- $19,125
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,700
- Payback
- 10.4 yrs
Lake Forest College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,692 in 8.5 years versus 10.4 years at Trinity Christian College, on median earnings of $61,825 vs $55,700 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lake Forest College | Trinity Christian College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,673 | $19,125 |
| Total net cost | $114,692 | $76,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,825 | $55,700 |
| Median debt | $26,158 | $25,009 |
| Payback | 8.5 yrs | 10.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $154,608 | $70,300 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lake Forest College or Trinity Christian College?
Trinity Christian College, at $19,125 a year after aid versus $28,673 — a gap of $9,548 a year, or $38,192 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Lake Forest College or Trinity Christian College graduates earn more?
Lake Forest College graduates report a median $61,825 ten years after entry, $6,125 more than the $55,700 at Trinity Christian College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Lake Forest College or Trinity Christian College?
Trinity Christian College: its completers carry a median $25,009 in federal loans versus $26,158 at Lake Forest College, a difference of $1,149. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
78% of students finish at Lake Forest College, against 58% at Trinity Christian College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.