Lafayette College vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Abington is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 2,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lafayette College is located in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lafayette College 10:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or Penn State Abington? 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 Abington than Lafayette College ($19,232 vs. $38,442).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 27.1% lower than at Lafayette College ($14,474 vs. $19,866).
• Lafayette College is 328.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $50,130 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 154.8% higher at Lafayette College than at Penn State Abington (about $39,734 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Abington than at Lafayette College (80% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 352.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($44,707 vs. $9,883).

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lafayette College (1430) is 260 points higher than at Penn State Abington (1170).
• Incoming Lafayette College students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 25 at Penn State Abington).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 1350/1500; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 31/33; Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lafayette College - Test optional; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Lafayette College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Penn State Abington (3.42).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Lafayette College (31.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Lafayette College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lafayette College and Penn State Abington? 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 Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $25,700 more per year than Penn State Abington 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 Abington 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 Abington graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Abington 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.