Lafayette College: the complete school report for parents

What does Lafayette College actually weigh in admissions?

Lafayette College rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 2 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Lafayette College's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What GPA do admitted students actually have?

63% of enrolled students had a 3.50 GPA or above. The average was 3.56 on a 4 scale, reported for 99.14% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.

What is the Lafayette College waitlist really like?

Lafayette College offered a place on its waiting list to 2,660 applicants and 1,316 accepted one. 171 were ultimately admitted. That is 13.0% of those who waited.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

Lafayette College admitted 22.8% of 233 transfer applicants, against 31.2% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 38.0% of ED applicants were admitted against 31.2% overall, a gap of 7 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.

What does my child need to take in high school?

Lafayette College sets no fixed course requirements, but recommends 16 academic units. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.

What will Lafayette College actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $34,433 a year at Lafayette College after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $70,486. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 100% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 172 merit awards averaging $23,965 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

37% of Lafayette College graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $34,810 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $170 a month in repayment. Lafayette College’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Lafayette College pay off?

Graduates earn a median $91,410 ten years after entering, and $80,614 at six years. 92% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 91% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$106,100 to $59,301, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Lafayette College:

College Scorecard, by field of study.

Will my child actually graduate?

91% of first-years return for a second year. 85% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 85.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 85.0% of everyone else, a gap of 0.0 points.

How big are the classes?

65% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 0% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1, and 87% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

What is life at Lafayette College like?

2,675 undergraduates, 85% of first-years from out of state. 99% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 94% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 24% of men join a fraternity and 36% of women a sorority. 15% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $85,923.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. Lafayette College recommends 16 academic units.
• 63% of enrolled students are at a 3.50 GPA or above, averaging 3.56. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 171 of 1,316 who waited were admitted, about 13%.
• Its highest-earning major returns $106,100 five years out against $59,301 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about Lafayette College

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