Lafayette College vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

Compare Lafayette College in Easton, PA with University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 2,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lafayette College is located in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lafayette College 10:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Lafayette College vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or Penn? 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 University of Pennsylvania than Lafayette College ($23,570 vs. $38,442).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pennsylvania are 3.5% lower than at Lafayette College ($19,174 vs. $19,866).
• University of Pennsylvania is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lafayette College (about $3,288 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $65,398.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at Penn than at Lafayette College (about $3,288 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $65,398.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lafayette College than at University of Pennsylvania (61% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 46.4% larger than aid received by Lafayette College students ($65,458 vs. $44,707).

Lafayette College vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 110 points higher than at Lafayette College (1430).
• Incoming Penn students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at Lafayette College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 1350/1500; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 31/33; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lafayette College - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Lafayette College (3.53).
• Lafayette College has a higher acceptance rate (31.4%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Lafayette College vs. 68% at Penn.

Lafayette College vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lafayette College and Penn? 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).

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Lafayette College's (88%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $42,600 more per year than Lafayette College graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $81,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $5,367 lower median loan debt than Lafayette College graduates ($20,633 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lafayette College graduates ($213 vs. $268).
• More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 84%)

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.