Lafayette College

Private · Selective · PA

Photo: Tomwsulcer (CC0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationPA · Northeast

SettingSuburban

Undergrads2,757

Student:faculty10:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate80.2%

6-yr grad rate87.6%

Drop-out rate10.3%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$65k

Out-of-state tuition$65k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity33.4%

Gender diversity49.9%

International6.9%

IdentityPresbyterian Church (USA)

Overview

Lafayette is a small liberal arts college in Easton, Pennsylvania, named for the Marquis de Lafayette and notable for offering ABET-accredited engineering degrees alongside a full liberal arts curriculum — a pairing few colleges this size attempt, and one Lafayette has offered since the 19th century, among the oldest undergraduate engineering programs in the country. The campus sits on a hill above the Delaware River valley, giving it a compact, self-contained feel where students move easily between humanities seminars and engineering labs rather than treating the two as separate worlds.

Academics

Engineering programs (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, and computer) run alongside strong offerings in economics, government and law, and the natural sciences, all taught in small classes with heavy faculty contact. The EXCEL Scholars program is a signature feature: it funds students, as early as their first year, to work directly alongside faculty on paid research, blurring the line between coursework and independent scholarship well before many peers reach a senior thesis. Lafayette also offers an A.B. in engineering for students who want technical literacy without a full engineering major, reinforcing the college's double-major culture across the engineering/liberal-arts divide.

Campus & student life

The hilltop campus overlooks Easton and the river, with a traditional quad, fraternity and sorority houses, and a walkable, self-contained layout that keeps most social life on campus. Athletics matter a great deal, especially the Lafayette-Lehigh football rivalry — the most-played rivalry in college football history and a season-defining event that alternates between the two campuses each fall. Greek life is a significant presence without dominating entirely, and the small size means most students recognize each other by senior year.

Getting in

Lafayette reads applications holistically, and engineering applicants are generally expected to show clear preparation and demonstrated interest in the field — coursework in physics and calculus, not just strong grades generally. Alumni loyalty and legacy ties run deep at Lafayette, and demonstrated interest through visits or interviews can matter in a process that isn't purely numbers-driven. Essays that show genuine intellectual curiosity, rather than polish alone, tend to stand out.

After graduation

Engineering graduates place well into industry roles and graduate engineering programs, while liberal arts graduates lean toward finance, consulting, law, and government, reflecting the strength of the economics and government departments. The alumni network is unusually active and generous for a school of its size, a direct reflection of the loyalty the college cultivates through small classes and lasting faculty relationships.

Worth knowing

The engineering-plus-liberal-arts combination is genuinely unusual at this size and worth weighing seriously for a student who wants both without choosing a pure technical institute or a pure liberal arts college. The EXCEL research program is also a real differentiator — students seriously interested in research should ask how early they could get involved. The Lafayette-Lehigh rivalry, meanwhile, shapes campus calendar and culture every autumn.

lafayette.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate31.4%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1350–1500 · ACT 31–33

Test policyoptional

Rec letters2

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early decisionNov 15

Regular decisionJan 15

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App.

Early decision IIJan 15

Financial aid formsJan 15

Early Decision I and II are binding, and Regular Decision applicants can convert to Early Decision II by February 1 if Lafayette becomes their top choice.

Supplemental essays (1)

Why Lafayette?
Students identify Lafayette as an excellent fit for countless reasons. In your response, be deliberate and specific about your motivation for applying to Lafayette. Why do you see yourself at Lafayette?
200 words · Optional · 20-200 words

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗