Hunter vs. Lafayette College

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY with Lafayette College in Easton, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Hunter College is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 2,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Lafayette College is in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Hunter College 14:1; Lafayette College 10:1.

Hunter vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hunter or Lafayette College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Hunter College than Lafayette College ($4,431 vs. $38,442).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 40.4% lower than at Lafayette College ($11,832 vs. $19,866).
• Lafayette College is 785.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $58,016 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $7,382.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 326.5% higher at Lafayette College than at CUNY Hunter College (about $50,066 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $15,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Lafayette College (87% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 358.3% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($44,707 vs. $9,755).

Hunter vs. Lafayette College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hunter or Lafayette College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Lafayette College and Hunter.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lafayette College (1430) is 170 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420; Lafayette College 1350/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsLafayette College 31/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hunter - Test optional; Lafayette College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Hunter students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Lafayette College (3.53).
• Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Lafayette College (31.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Hunter vs. 21.8% at Lafayette College.

Hunter vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hunter and Lafayette College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Lafayette College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
• Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $32,200 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,000 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $14,452 lower median loan debt than Lafayette College graduates ($11,548 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $149 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lafayette College graduates ($119 vs. $268).
• More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.