Lafayette College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Easton, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
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Lafayette College is a private nonprofit university in Easton, Pennsylvania that admits about 31% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $34,433 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Economics, Political Science and Government and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 85% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 7.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Lafayette College is a private institution located in Easton, Pennsylvania with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Lafayette College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 31%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1420 and an ACT composite around 32. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $34,433 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Lafayette College?
63% of enrolled students at Lafayette College had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.56, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What does Lafayette College weight in admissions?
Lafayette College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Class rank
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Interview
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Lafayette College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 680–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 680. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1360 |
| 50th percentile | 1420 |
| 75th percentile | 1490 |
| % submitting SAT | 27% |
| 25th percentile | 30.5 |
| 50th percentile | 31 |
| 75th percentile | 33 |
| % submitting ACT | 9% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 53% |
| Top 25% of class | 81% |
| Top 50% of class | 98% |
| % submitting class rank | 22% |
How much does Lafayette College actually cost?
Published tuition is $65,398 for in-state students and $65,398 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,866 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $34,433 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 12% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $70,486 |
| Room and board | $20,896 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $34,433 |
| Application fee | $65 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Lafayette College
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | 3/23 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 15 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | February 1 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 38% |
Will my child graduate from Lafayette College?
These predict outcomes at Lafayette College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Lafayette College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Lafayette College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Political Science and Government and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Lafayette College confers roughly 517 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $106,100 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | 140 | $106,100 |
| Political Science and Government | 84 | $81,966 |
| Psychology, General | 66 | $74,290 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 63 | $94,144 |
| Biology, General | 48 | $78,669 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 46 | $82,698 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 37 | $89,758 |
| Civil Engineering | 33 | $90,802 |
Is Lafayette College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Lafayette College disclosed 20 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 7.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Lafayette College?
About 94% of undergraduates at Lafayette College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 24% of men join a fraternity and 36% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Pennsylvania parents ask about
- York College of Pennsylvania74% acceptance
- Westminster College93% acceptance
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania78% acceptance
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania87% acceptance
- Millersville University of Pennsylvania86% acceptance
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus91% acceptance
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania71% acceptance
- Elizabethtown College78% acceptance
Next steps for Lafayette College
Common questions parents ask about Lafayette College
What GPA do I need for Lafayette College?
63% of enrolled students at Lafayette College had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.56, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Lafayette College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 680–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 680. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–33.
How much does Lafayette College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Lafayette College after grants and scholarships is $34,433 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $65,398. Budget against the net figure.
Is Lafayette College realistic for my child?
Lafayette College admits 31% of applicants, so 680–760 SAT Math is target range and below 680 is a reach. Then check the $34,433 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Lafayette College?
Lafayette College accepts about 31% of applicants out of roughly 10,556 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is Lafayette College test-optional?
Yes. Lafayette College is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Lafayette College?
About 85% of students at Lafayette College graduate within six years. 91% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Lafayette College?
Lafayette College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 38%, compared with its overall rate of 31%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Lafayette College look for in applicants?
Lafayette College rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Lafayette College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Lafayette College is a private nonprofit institution located in Easton, Pennsylvania.
What are the most popular majors at Lafayette College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Lafayette College by annual graduates are Economics, Political Science and Government and Psychology, General. The school awards about 517 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Lafayette College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Lafayette College reported 20 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 7.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Lafayette College?
At Lafayette College, 94% of undergraduates live on campus, 24% of men are in fraternities, 36% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Lafayette College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers