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Lehigh Bucknell Villanova Fordham Union College Skidmore College Colgate University of Richmond Trinity College Denison BU Muhlenberg College| Lafayette College | Messiah College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Lafayette College | Messiah College | ||
| Location | Easton, PA | Grantham, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,764 | 3,344 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #66 | #362 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Interdenominational | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lafayette.edu | messiah.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Lafayette College | Messiah College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $61,482 | $39,700 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $61,482 | $39,700 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,640 | $11,910 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $34,728 | $29,882 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $44,126 | $24,223 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 52% | 100% |
Admission |
Lafayette College | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,874 | 2,375 | ||
| Admitted | 3,107 | 1,864 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 31.5% | 78.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.4% | 32% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.53 | 3.8 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 30/33 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1340/1490 | 1100/1340 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
Lafayette College | Messiah College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Lafayette College | Messiah College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $81,000 | $48,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 91% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $25,989 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $268 |
Diversity |
Lafayette College | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 1% |
Students |
Lafayette College | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 13% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 79% | 36% | ||
Campus |
Lafayette College | Messiah College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Messiah College is larger than than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (3,344 students vs. 2,764 students)
Lafayette College vs. Messiah College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or Messiah College?
- Lafayette College is 54.9% more expensive to attend than Messiah College for in-state tuition ($61,482.00 vs. $39,700.00)
- Out of state tuition is 54.9% higher at Lafayette College than Messiah College ($61,482.00 vs. $39,700.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messiah College than Lafayette College ($29,882 vs. $34,728)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah College are 56.5% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($11,910 vs. $18,640)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Messiah College than Lafayette College (100% vs. 52%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 82.2% larger than aid received Messiah College ($44,126 vs. $24,223)
Lafayette College vs. Messiah College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Lafayette College or Messiah College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Messiah College or Lafayette College .
- The average SAT score at Lafayette College (1294) is 165 points higher than at Messiah College (1129)
- Incoming Lafayette College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Messiah College (25)
- Accepted freshman Messiah College students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Lafayette College (3.53)
- Messiah College has a higher acceptance rate (78.5%) than Lafayette College (31.5%)
Lafayette College vs. Messiah College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Lafayette College or Messiah 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 Messiah College and Lafayette College.
- The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than Messiah College (88% vs. 74%)
- Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $32,400 more per year than Messiah College graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $48,600)
- Messiah College students graduate with a $11 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($25,989 vs. $26,000)
- Messiah College and Lafayette College graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($268 vs. $268)
- More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messiah College students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 85%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/