Lafayette College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Easton, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2025-2026

Admission at a glance

Common Data Set 2025-2026

  • Test-optional
  • Early Decision
  • Early Decision II
10,556
Applicants
3,289
Admitted31%
696
Enrolled
21%
Yield rate

Selectivity

Selective31% admitted
AccessibleHighly selective
Median SAT
1420
Mid 50: 1360–1490
In-state tuition
$70,486
per year, before aid (CDS 2025-2026)
Net price (avg)
$34,433
after aid, what families pay

Ranked #30 in National Liberal Arts Colleges; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #15 (tie), Computer Science #217 (tie), Economics #140 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027

Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Lafayette College (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.

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Quick answer

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.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
12.5%
3.75–3.99
24.6%
3.50–3.74
26.4%
3.25–3.49
16.8%
3.00–3.24
12.5%
2.50–2.99
6.8%
Below 2.50
0.4%
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Lafayette College.

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What does Lafayette College weight in admissions?

Lafayette College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

Very Important

2
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA

Important

9
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Interview
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • Character/personal qualities
  • Level of applicant's interest

Considered

5
  • First generation status
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience

Not Considered

2
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment

How Lafayette College reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

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.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1360
50th percentile1420
75th percentile1490
% submitting SAT27%
ACT Composite
25th percentile30.5
50th percentile31
75th percentile33
% submitting ACT9%
Current testing policy
  • • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Test-optional for students enrolling fall 2027 and fall 2028; superscores SAT/ACT.
  • • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Lafayette College's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.

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 class53%
Top 25% of class81%
Top 50% of class98%
% submitting class rank22%

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, and that is 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
Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need100%
Average need-based grant$54,031
Average merit award, no financial need172 first-year students received one$23,965
Graduates who borrowed37%
Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed$34,810
Financial aid formsFAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list
Application fee$65 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for Lafayette College

Regular admission
Regular deadline1/15
Notification date3/23
Reply deadline5/1
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadlineNovember 15
Offers Early Decision IIYes
ED II deadlineFebruary 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

Freshman retention
91%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
null%
finished on time
6-year graduation
85%
finished within 6 years

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

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Economics140$106,100
Political Science and Government84$81,966
Psychology, General66$74,290
Mechanical Engineering63$94,144
Biology, General48$78,669
Neurobiology and Neurosciences46$82,698
International Relations and National Security Studies37$89,758
Civil Engineering33$90,802
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

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

Total offenses
20
7.3 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
0
0.00 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
5
1.81 per 1,000
Burglary
6
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 2,757 enrolled.

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.

Live on campus
94%
of undergraduates
Classes under 20 students
65%
of course sections
Classes of 100 or more
0%
of course sections
In fraternities
24%
of men
In sororities
36%
of women
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Lafayette College.

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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 for Fall 2027 applicants, 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