Harvard vs. Lafayette College

Deciding between Harvard University and Lafayette College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
Lafayette College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Lafayette College Easton, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Lafayette College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Lafayette College 2,775
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Lafayette College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Lafayette College #69
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Lafayette College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Lafayette College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Lafayette College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Lafayette College $19,866
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Lafayette College $38,442
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Lafayette College $44,707
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Lafayette College 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Lafayette College 10,195
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Lafayette College 3,206
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Lafayette College 31.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Lafayette College 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Lafayette College 1430
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Lafayette College 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Lafayette College 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Lafayette College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Lafayette College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Lafayette College High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Lafayette College 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Lafayette College 1350/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Lafayette College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Lafayette College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Lafayette College
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Lafayette College 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Lafayette College $81,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Lafayette College 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Lafayette College $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Lafayette College $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Lafayette College 50%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Lafayette College 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Lafayette College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Lafayette College No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Lafayette College 67%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Lafayette College 4%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Lafayette College 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Lafayette College 6%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Lafayette College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Lafayette College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Lafayette College 2%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Lafayette College 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Lafayette College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Lafayette College 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Lafayette College 78%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • Lafayette College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • Lafayette College Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • Lafayette College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • Lafayette College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • Lafayette College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Lafayette College in Easton, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Lafayette College is in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Lafayette College 10:1.

Harvard vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Lafayette College ($17,525 vs. $38,442).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lafayette College are 6.2% lower than at Harvard University ($19,866 vs. $21,190).
  • Lafayette College is 6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $3,722 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6% higher at Lafayette College than at Harvard University (about $3,722 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lafayette College than at Harvard University (61% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 52.1% larger than aid received by Lafayette College students ($68,015 vs. $44,707).

Harvard vs. Lafayette College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 120 points higher than at Lafayette College (1430).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at Lafayette College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Lafayette College 1350/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Lafayette College 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Lafayette College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Lafayette College (3.53).
  • Lafayette College has a higher acceptance rate (31.4%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 21.8% at Lafayette College.

Harvard vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Lafayette College's (88%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $55,700 more per year than Lafayette College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $81,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $19,500 lower median loan debt than Lafayette College graduates ($6,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $201 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lafayette College graduates ($67 vs. $268).
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 70%)

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.