Colgate vs. Lafayette College

Should I go to Colgate University or Lafayette College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colgate or Lafayette College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colgate University vs. Lafayette College comparison
Colgate University Lafayette College College 3 College 4
Colgate University Lafayette College
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Overview

Colgate Lafayette College
Location Hamilton, NY Easton, PA
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,146 2,764
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #27 #66
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colgate.edu lafayette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colgate Lafayette College
Tuition (In State) $66,622 $61,482
Tuition (Out of State) $66,622 $61,482
Room & Board $16,790 $18,640
Avg Net Price $26,954 $34,728
Avg Grant Aid $56,696 $44,126
% Receiving Grant Aid 43% 52%

Admission

Colgate Lafayette College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,130 9,874
Admitted 2,526 3,107
Acceptance Rate 12% 31.5%
Enrolled % 31.9% 22.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.53
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High High
ACT Range 33/34 30/33
SAT Range 1430/1530 1340/1490
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Colgate Lafayette College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Engineering (19%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

Colgate Lafayette College
Graduation Rate 92% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,300 $81,000
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,125 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $166 $268

Diversity

Colgate Lafayette College
% Men 0% 0%
% Women 0% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 67%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 9% 9%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

Colgate Lafayette College
% In-State 22% 13%
% Out-of-State 69% 79%

Campus

Colgate Lafayette College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Colgate University is larger than than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (3,146 students vs. 2,764 students)

Colgate vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or Lafayette College?

  • Colgate University is 8.4% more expensive to attend than Lafayette College for in-state tuition ($66,622.00 vs. $61,482.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.4% higher at Colgate than Lafayette College ($66,622.00 vs. $61,482.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colgate University than Lafayette College ($26,954 vs. $34,728)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 11% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($16,790 vs. $18,640)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lafayette College than Colgate University (52% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 28.5% larger than aid received Lafayette College ($56,696 vs. $44,126)

Colgate vs. Lafayette College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate or Lafayette College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lafayette College or Colgate .

  • The average SAT score at Colgate University (1374) is 80 points higher than at Lafayette College (1294)
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Lafayette College (29)
  • Accepted freshman Colgate students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Lafayette College (3.53)
  • Lafayette College has a higher acceptance rate (31.5%) than Colgate (12%)

Colgate vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colgate or Lafayette College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Lafayette College and Colgate.

  • The graduation rate at Colgate is higher than Lafayette College (92% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $5,700 more per year than Colgate graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $75,300)
  • Colgate University students graduate with a $9,875 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($16,125 vs. $26,000)
  • Colgate graduates are paying $102 less per month on federal student loans than Lafayette College graduates. ($166 vs. $268)
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colgate students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 86%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/