Lafayette College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

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

Lafayette College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (2,775 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Wilkes Barre than Lafayette College ($16,621 vs. $38,442).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 23.1% lower than at Lafayette College ($15,274 vs. $19,866).
• Lafayette College is 358% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $51,118 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 172.4% higher at Lafayette College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $41,392 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Lafayette College (89% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 358.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($44,707 vs. $9,742).

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lafayette College (1430) is 220 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 1350/1500; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• 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 Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Lafayette College (31.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Lafayette College vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Lafayette College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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