Lafayette College vs. Penn State

Deciding between Lafayette College and Penn State Main Campus? 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.

Lafayette College
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lafayette College Easton, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Lafayette College Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Lafayette College 2,775
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Lafayette College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lafayette College #69
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lafayette College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Lafayette College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lafayette College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Lafayette College $19,866
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Lafayette College $38,442
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lafayette College $44,707
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lafayette College 61%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lafayette College 10,195
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Lafayette College 3,206
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lafayette College 31.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Lafayette College 21.8%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lafayette College 1430
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lafayette College 32
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lafayette College 3.53
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lafayette College A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lafayette College Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lafayette College High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Lafayette College 31/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Lafayette College 1350/1500
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lafayette College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lafayette College 10:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lafayette College
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lafayette College 88%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lafayette College $81,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lafayette College 91%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lafayette College $26,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lafayette College $268
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lafayette College 50%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Lafayette College 50%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lafayette College Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Lafayette College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Lafayette College 67%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Lafayette College 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Lafayette College 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lafayette College 6%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Lafayette College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lafayette College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lafayette College 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Lafayette College 9%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lafayette College 7%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lafayette College 15%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lafayette College 78%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Lafayette College in Easton, PA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lafayette College is located in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lafayette College 10:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or Penn State? 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 Penn State Main Campus than Lafayette College ($27,889 vs. $38,442).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 27.1% lower than at Lafayette College ($14,474 vs. $19,866).
  • Lafayette College is 216.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $44,754 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 56.5% higher at Lafayette College than at Penn State Main Campus (about $23,608 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lafayette College than at Penn State Main Campus (61% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 294.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($44,707 vs. $11,336).

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lafayette College or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Lafayette College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lafayette College (1430) is 100 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Lafayette College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 1350/1500; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 31/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lafayette College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Lafayette College (31.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Lafayette College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lafayette College and Penn State? 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 Penn State Main Campus's (87%).
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $25,700 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lafayette College graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Lafayette College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 69%)

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.