Lake Forest College earned the No. 9 spot among all Illinois colleges on Niche's 2027 Best Colleges list, the only Lake County school in the state's top 10.

Niche, a Pittsburgh-based college search and review site, evaluated more than 4,000 colleges and universities nationwide for the 2027 edition, Patch reported. The rankings combine federal data with reviews from students and alumni, weighing academics, value, professors, campus life, diversity and safety.

The Illinois top 10, in order: University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Lake Forest College and Elmhurst University.

University of Chicago also ranked No. 16 nationally. Massachusetts Institute of Technology took the top national spot.

For 2027, Niche added a measure comparing colleges with similar institutions based on their missions and outcomes. The site also introduced pilot grades for student wellness and "future readiness," covering career services, internships and exposure to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The ranking arrives during a growth period for the college at 555 N. Sheridan Road. Lake Forest College welcomed its largest incoming class in 169 years for the fall 2026 semester, with 423 first-year students and 116 transfer students, according to a college announcement on Aug. 28. Total fall enrollment reached 1,794 students from 44 states and 119 countries.

The Class of 2030 drew 49 percent of its students from out of state, with 20 percent coming from abroad and 41 percent of domestic students identifying as students of color. The new students hail from more than 30 states and 50 countries.

"Equally exciting is the increase in our yield rate … That is an important indicator of the growing interest in a Lake Forest College education and the confidence students and their families have in the experience we offer," Vice President for Enrollment Chris Ellertson said in the Aug. 28 enrollment announcement.

Lake Forest College has not issued a public statement on the Niche ranking. The college's fall 2026 semester began Aug. 27 with 1,794 students on campus.