Lake Forest College Swimming — Division III Recruiting Profile
At a Glance
Lake Forest College Swim Program Overview
Lake Forest College fields men's varsity · women's varsity in NCAA Division III, competing in the Midwest. Division III programs prioritize the balance of athletics and academic achievement — there are no athletic scholarships, but D3 schools commonly offer strong institutional merit and need-based aid packages that make the net cost competitive.
NCAA Division III prohibits athletic scholarships entirely — no money can be tied to athletic ability. However, D3 schools typically offer strong institutional merit and need-based grant programs. Families who complete FAFSA often find the true after-aid net cost at selective D3 schools competitive with out-of-state public university pricing.
Academically, Lake Forest College has an enrollment of 3,318, a 66.8% acceptance rate, a Niche overall grade of C+. As a private institution, it charges a single tuition rate of $48,100 regardless of home state.
Recruiting Time Standards
Calibrated benchmarks for Lake Forest College based on historical recruiting classes. A cut = scholarship / elite tier. B cut = scoring varsity. C cut = walk-on / depth.
| Event | A Cut | B Cut | C Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 Free | 24.75 | 25.63 | 26.88 |
| 100 Free | 54.38 | 56.50 | 58.75 |
| 200 Free | 1:58.13 | 2:02.50 | 2:07.50 |
| 500 Free | 5:18.75 | 5:28.75 | 5:40.00 |
| 1000 Free | 10:57.50 | 11:15.00 | 11:35.00 |
| 1650 Free | 18:20.00 | 18:45.00 | 19:17.50 |
| 100 Back | 59.38 | 1:01.50 | 1:04.38 |
| 200 Back | 2:08.75 | 2:13.75 | 2:20.00 |
| 100 Breast | 1:06.25 | 1:08.75 | 1:11.88 |
| 200 Breast | 2:22.50 | 2:28.75 | 2:35.00 |
| 100 Fly | 58.13 | 1:00.63 | 1:03.13 |
| 200 Fly | 2:07.50 | 2:12.50 | 2:18.13 |
| 200 IM | 2:01.25 | 2:06.25 | 2:11.25 |
| 400 IM | 4:20.00 | 4:30.00 | 4:40.00 |
Lake Forest College Swimming Division and Conference
Lake Forest College competes in NCAA Division III, in the Midwest. Division III is the largest NCAA division by program count and prioritizes athletic excellence without athletic scholarships — schools fund student success through institutional merit and need-based aid instead. The Midwest conducts a conference championship each season, which influences national rankings and NCAA qualifying bids.
Is Lake Forest College a good fit for swimmers?
Lake Forest College is a NCAA Division III swim program competing in the Midwest, a competitive NCAA conference. Division III swimming is deeply competitive in its own right, with programs that have strong traditions and send athletes to the NCAA D3 Championships. Without athletic scholarships, D3 schools recruit swimmers who prioritize balancing sport with academics.
Competing in the Midwest, Lake Forest College swimmers face some of the strongest programs in the country throughout the season. Conference championship performance influences team rankings, national reputation, and how many swimmers earn bids to the NCAA Championships in March.
As a D3 program, Lake Forest College cannot offer athletic scholarships under NCAA rules. However, D3 institutions typically offer competitive academic merit and need-based financial aid. Many families find the real after-aid net cost at selective D3 schools comparable to out-of-state public university pricing.
Who should consider Lake Forest College for swimming?
Lake Forest College is an ideal recruiting target for swimmers who want to compete at the NCAA Division III level in the Midwest while studying in Lake Forest, Illinois. As a private institution, Lake Forest College charges the same tuition rate for all students regardless of home state. Athletic and merit aid packages are the primary levers for reducing the real cost, so recruited swimmers should have detailed financial conversations with the coaching staff early in the process.
Based on Lake Forest College's historical recruiting classes, the breakdown by tier for the 50 Free looks like this:
- Scholarship-target level (A cut) — 24.75 or faster in the 50 Free: These recruits are the top priority for coaching staff and are first in line for athletic aid discussions.
- Scoring varsity level (B cut) — 25.63: Expected to contribute points in dual meets and conference scoring situations. Strong candidates for partial athletic and merit aid packages.
- Walk-on / preferred walk-on (C cut) — 26.88: Adds training depth to the program. Walk-ons at D1 programs routinely drop significant time and can earn scholarship money in later years based on performance.
Coaches recruit on your best event — a single A-cut can open a recruiting conversation regardless of other events. See the full recruiting time standards table above for all 14 tracked events and identify where you stand across your entire event lineup.
Academically, Lake Forest College admits 66.8% of applicants — a school accessible to a wide range of academic backgrounds. Recruited athletes are expected to meet the standard admissions profile, and coaches typically have some ability to advocate for borderline candidates when the athletic need is strong.
Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid
Sticker price
In-state tuition: $48,100
Out-of-state tuition: $48,100
Room & board: $16,400
After aid
Average net price: $29,300 (IPEDS)
Meets full need: No
Merit aid availability: high
Need aid availability: medium
Academic Profile
Admissions
Acceptance rate: 66.8%
Total enrollment: 3,318
Institution type: private
NCAA eligibility requires a minimum 2.3 GPA and 16 core courses for D1/D2, and a 2.0 GPA for D3, plus academic progress standards in each year. Lake Forest College's admissions profile reflects the general academic baseline — most coaches prefer recruits who meet or comfortably exceed those standards.
Campus & Location
Lake Forest College is located in Lake Forest, Illinois. Browse all NCAA swim programs in Illinois →
Coaching Staff & Recruiting Contact
Frequently Asked Questions
- What division does Lake Forest College swim in?
- Lake Forest College competes in NCAA Division III, in the Midwest. The program offers men's varsity · women's varsity.
- What recruiting times does Lake Forest College swimming look for?
- For the 50 Free, Lake Forest College's A-cut recruiting standard is 24.75, the B cut is 25.63, and the C cut is 26.88. A cuts target scholarship-level recruits, B cuts are solid scoring varsity, and C cuts cover walk-on depth. See the full table above for all 14 tracked events.
- How much does Lake Forest College cost after financial aid?
- IPEDS data shows an average net price of $29,300 per year at Lake Forest College. Your real cost depends on your family's FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI), any athletic aid, and merit scholarships.
- Does Lake Forest College swimming offer athletic scholarships?
- No — NCAA Division III programs cannot offer athletic scholarships. Lake Forest College swimmers are eligible for academic merit aid and need-based financial aid, but none of it can be tied to athletic performance.
- Does Lake Forest College meet 100% of demonstrated financial need?
- Lake Forest College does not commit to meeting 100% of financial need. Aid packages typically include a combination of grants, loans, and work-study based on FAFSA results.
- How selective is Lake Forest College academically?
- Lake Forest College accepts 66.8% of applicants. Recruited swimmers are expected to meet or exceed the general admissions academic standards, though coaches may have limited bandwidth to advocate for borderline academic cases.
- What conference does Lake Forest College swimming compete in?
- Lake Forest College swims in the Midwest. Conference championship performance influences NCAA qualifying times and the program's national ranking each season.
- Is Lake Forest College public or private, and does it matter for swim recruits?
- Lake Forest College is a private university and charges a uniform tuition rate of $48,100 for all students regardless of home state. Private schools often have larger endowments to fund merit aid and sometimes cover more of demonstrated financial need.
Similar Programs
Other NCAA Division III programs in and around Illinois — explore schools with comparable recruiting profiles
Midwest Programs
Lake Forest College competes against these schools throughout the season at dual meets and the Midwest championship
Do your times fit Lake Forest College?
Enter your best event times and we'll tell you exactly how you compare to Lake Forest College's A, B, and C recruiting benchmarks — across all 14 events.
You'll also get a ranked list of every program that fits your times, GPA, and budget. No credit card required.
Sources: NCAA, IPEDS, Niche.com, ProductiveRecruit. Recruiting time tiers (A/B/C) are University Swim Fit-calibrated benchmarks based on division, program tier, and historical recruiting classes.