Lafayette College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Lafayette College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (2,775 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or Penn State Lehigh Valley? 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 Lehigh Valley than Lafayette College ($19,066 vs. $38,442).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 23.1% lower than at Lafayette College ($15,274 vs. $19,866).
• Lafayette College is 330% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $50,190 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 157.6% higher at Lafayette College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $40,006 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at Lafayette College (80% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 393.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($44,707 vs. $9,065).

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lafayette College (1430) is 200 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 1350/1500; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 31/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lafayette College - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - 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 Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Lafayette College (31.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Lafayette College vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lafayette College and Penn State Lehigh Valley? 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 Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $25,700 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley 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 Lehigh Valley 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 Lehigh Valley graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley 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.