Lafayette College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Easton, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 2,757 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes92
Value49
Affordability6
Selectivity92
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 31.5%, Lafayette College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
31.5%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1350 – 1500
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
31 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Lafayette College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lafayette College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $34,433 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$34,433
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
12%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
20%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$65,398
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,866
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,866
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,150
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,150
Total Cost of Attendance
$83,133
Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,716
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,445
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,881
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,581
Over $110,000
$52,608
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,00025%percentile
$16,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,000
↓ $2,000
No Pell $14,000
↓ $2,000
Female students $14,000
↓ $2,000
Male students $13,000
↓ $3,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($16,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
89% of full-time students who enrolled at Lafayette College graduate within six years, and 91% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
89%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
91%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lafayette College earn a median of $91,410 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$91,410
Earning > $25K
95%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$70,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$88,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$77,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$74,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$83,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $18,500, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
4.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lafayette College is home to 2,757 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,757
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
15%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.6%1,836
Hispanic 9.9%272
International 6.9%189
Black 5.9%162
Other 5.2%143
Asian 3.5%95
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lafayette College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbEaston, Pennsylvania
Housing
Strongly residential2,506 beds for 2,757 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Lafayette College offers
a varied set of programs:
34 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lafayette College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.3B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$113,153
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
261 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
76
29%
$154,688
Associate Professors
78
30%
$111,719
Assistant Professors
95
36%
$86,420
Instructors
7
3%
$74,576
Lecturers
5
2%
$66,127
Pros & Cons of Lafayette College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lafayette College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Lafayette College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lafayette College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lafayette College.
Is Lafayette College hard to get into?
Lafayette College is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 31.5%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Lafayette College?
Lafayette College has an acceptance rate of 31.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Lafayette College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Lafayette College scored between 1350 and 1500 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Lafayette College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Lafayette College scored between 31 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Lafayette College cost?
The average net price after aid at Lafayette College is $34,433 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lafayette College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $91,410 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $34,433 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lafayette College known for?
Lafayette College is best known for its programs in Economics, Political Science, Mechanical Engineering. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lafayette College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lafayette College are $91,410, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lafayette College accredited?
Yes. Lafayette College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Lafayette College?
Lafayette College enrolls 2,757 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lafayette College?
Lafayette College graduates 89% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lafayette College a public or private college?
Lafayette College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Lafayette College located?
Lafayette College is located in Easton, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Lafayette College offer?
Lafayette College offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Political Science, Mechanical Engineering.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lafayette College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lafayette College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Pennsylvania
Other colleges in Pennsylvania share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
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Higher education data
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Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature Lafayette College
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