Lafayette College
#2 Best Engineering Colleges in Pennsylvania- Graduation Rate
- 88% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $91,410 A+
- Top 2% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $34,433 F
- 101% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 31% A
- Admits roughly 31% — highly selective
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.4 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Engineering Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Every $1 spent returns $15.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,978,791.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 124% more than the national college median.
-
A 88% graduation rate — 54% above the national average.
-
Inventor rate in the top 18% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
-
Every $1 invested returns $15.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 1.4%
- Top 18%
- Patents
- 46
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 39
- Downstream influence
Why Lafayette College Matters
Lafayette College is a private liberal arts college in Easton, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an unusually high rate of inventors and patents and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 2,757
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- 66
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Engineering, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology
Why students choose Lafayette College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 31% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1350–1500. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $34,433 a year after grants and scholarships — 101% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $91,410 ten years after enrolling — 124% above the typical college, against $16,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 42% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.84 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 31%, Lafayette College in Easton, PA, is an appealing choice for students who are ready to engage deeply with their education in a supportive community. It’s a great fit for those interested in fields like Social Sciences, Engineering, Biology and Biomedical Studies, Psychology, and Visual and Performing Arts. The college’s emphasis on collaborative learning and hands-on experiences really stands out, making it a place where students can explore their passions while also preparing for their careers.
After graduation, Lafayette alumni can expect to earn an impressive average of $91,410 within ten years of completing their degrees. This figure highlights the strong return on investment that a Lafayette education can offer. With a graduation rate of 88%, it’s clear that students are not just enrolling here; they’re succeeding. This high success rate indicates that the college is effectively supporting students in their academic journeys, and that many are moving on to thriving careers.
In terms of affordability, the net price after aid is around $34,433, with a median debt load of $16,000 for graduates. This manageable debt level suggests that students can graduate with less financial burden, allowing them to focus on their careers and life after college. Lafayette tends to attract motivated individuals who are eager to make the most of their college experience, contributing to a vibrant campus culture where students thrive both academically and socially.
Rankings
- #2 Best Engineering Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #3 Best Psychology Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #4 Best Biology Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #5 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #5 Best Bachelor's Programs in Pennsylvania
- #5 Best Master's Programs in Pennsylvania
- #6 Best Computer Science Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #6 Best Data Science Colleges in Pennsylvania
Can I Get In?
How selective Lafayette College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lafayette College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Easton, Pennsylvania, Lafayette College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 31%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,424. The graduation rate is roughly 88%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Retention Rate
- 90%
- SAT Average
- 1424
- ACT Midpoint
- 32
- SAT Range
- 1350–1500
- ACT Range
- 31–33
- Full-Time Faculty
- 87%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,663
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.54
- First-Gen Students
- 15%
- Applicants
- 10,500
- Admitted
- 3,531
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Lafayette College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 21% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 21%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 27%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 9%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 38.0%
- vs 31.2% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 937 Early Decision applicants, 356 were admitted — a 38.0% admit rate, roughly 1.2× the 31.2% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 51% of the entering class (356 of 696 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 36% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lafayette College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lafayette College is $65,398, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $34,433. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,716 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $65,398
- Out-of-State
- $65,398
- Avg Net Price
- $34,433
- Median Debt
- $16,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 12%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 20%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,716
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,445
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,881
- Family Income $110K+
- $52,608
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Lafayette College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Lafayette College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lafayette College earn a median of $91,410, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $80,614
- 8 Years
- $84,452
- 10 Years
- $91,410
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.18x
- Earning > $25K
- 85%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (555)
- 86%
- 100% (555)
- 86%
- 100% (555)
- 86%
- 100% (555)
- 86%
How Lafayette Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Lafayette College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Lafayette College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $34,433/year ($137,732 total). Graduates earn $91,410 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,116,523 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,978,791 (15.4× your investment). The median debt is $16,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 88% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $137,732
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,116,523
- Net Return
- $1,978,791
- ROI Multiple
- 15.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $34,433
- Median Debt
- $16,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 88%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Lafayette College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lafayette College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.63%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 2.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 58.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $156,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.63%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 58.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 2.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $212,900
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Lafayette College produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 18% nationally), with 46 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 1.43%
- Top 18% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 46
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 39
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,367,000
- Investment Income
- $-29,761,000
Top Programs
The fields Lafayette College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 30% $70,036 early-career
- Engineering 22% $86,029 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 14% $38,691 early-career
- Psychology 9% $52,482 early-career
- Physical Sciences 4% $68,105 early-career
- English & Literature 4% $38,487 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3% $40,390 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Lafayette College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lafayette College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Easton, Pennsylvania, Lafayette College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 31%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,424. The graduation rate is roughly 88%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lafayette College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lafayette College is $65,398, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $34,433. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,716 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,000 in federal student loans.
Is Lafayette College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lafayette College earn a median of $91,410, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Lafayette College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lafayette College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.63%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 2.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 58.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $156,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Lafayette College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Lafayette College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Lafayette College offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Lafayette College offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 38%, about 1.2 times the overall 31% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 51% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Lafayette College is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Lafayette College really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 36% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Lafayette College (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Lafayette College?
About 21% of admitted students choose to enroll at Lafayette College — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lafayette College.
- Trinity CollegeHartford, CT · Close peer83% grad $90,779 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, PA · Close peer86% grad $93,807 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Union CollegeSchenectady, NY · Close peer83% grad $88,604 earn 44% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MA · Close peer88% grad $90,543 earn 18% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Fairfield UniversityFairfield, CT · Close peer84% grad $88,794 earn 33% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Connecticut CollegeNew London, CT · Close peer83% grad $75,001 earn 37% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lafayette College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Lafayette College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note