Lafayette College vs. PLU

Should I go to Lafayette College or Pacific Lutheran University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lafayette College or PLU 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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Lafayette College vs. Pacific Lutheran University comparison
Lafayette College Pacific Lutheran University College 3 College 4
Lafayette College Pacific Lutheran University
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Overview

Lafayette College PLU
Location Easton, PA Tacoma, WA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,729 2,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #65 #311
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lafayette.edu plu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lafayette College PLU
Tuition (In State) $58,110 $49,472
Tuition (Out of State) $58,110 $49,472
Room & Board $17,336 $11,826
Avg Net Price $37,186 $24,825
Avg Grant Aid $24,981 $36,435
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 99%

Admission

Lafayette College PLU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,500 3,334
Admitted 3,531 2,964
Acceptance Rate 33.6% 88.9%
Enrolled % 21.4% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 27/30
SAT Range 1330/1480 1253/1423
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, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Lafayette College PLU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Engineering (19%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Lafayette College PLU
Graduation Rate 88% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $81,000 $52,300
Making Student Loan Payments 91% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,800
Median Loan Payment $268 $266

Diversity

Lafayette College PLU
% Men 50% 36%
% Women 50% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 68%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 9% 4%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

Lafayette College PLU
% In-State 16% 74%
% Out-of-State 76% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Lafayette College is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (2,729 students vs. 2,633 students)

Lafayette College vs. PLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or PLU?

  • Lafayette College is 17.5% more expensive to attend than PLU for in-state tuition ($58,110.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.5% higher at Lafayette College than Pacific Lutheran University ($58,110.00 vs. $49,472.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Lafayette College ($24,825 vs. $37,186)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 46.6% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($11,826 vs. $17,336)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Lafayette College (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 45.9% larger than aid received Lafayette College ($36,435 vs. $24,981)

Lafayette College vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lafayette College (1294) is 177 points higher than at PLU (1117)
  • Incoming Lafayette College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at PLU (25)
  • Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Lafayette College (3.53)
  • PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Lafayette College (33.6%)

Lafayette College vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lafayette College or PLU? 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 PLU and Lafayette College.

  • The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (88% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $28,700 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $52,300)
  • Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $200 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($25,800 vs. $26,000)
  • PLU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Lafayette College graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 74%)

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