Lafayette College vs. WCU

Should I go to Lafayette College or West Chester University of Pennsylvania? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lafayette College or WCU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Lafayette College vs. West Chester University of Pennsylvania comparison
Lafayette College West Chester University of Pennsylvania College 3 College 4
Lafayette College West Chester University of Pennsylvania
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Overview

 Lafayette College WCU
Location Easton, PA West Chester, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,729 17,275
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #65 #496
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lafayette.edu wcupa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Lafayette College WCU
Tuition (In State) $58,110 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $58,110 $19,290
Room & Board $17,336 $14,228
Avg Net Price $37,186 $22,973
Avg Grant Aid $24,981 $5,443
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 64%

Admission

 Lafayette College WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,500 14,778
Admitted 3,531 12,982
Acceptance Rate 33.6% 87.8%
Enrolled % 21.4% 23.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.43
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Challenging
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 23/30
SAT Range 1330/1480 1080/1260
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Lafayette College WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Engineering (19%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

Outcomes

 Lafayette College WCU
Graduation Rate 88% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $81,000 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 91% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $242

Diversity

 Lafayette College WCU
% Men 50% 39%
% Women 50% 61%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 78%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 9% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

 Lafayette College WCU
% In-State 16% 87%
% Out-of-State 76% 12%

Campus

 Lafayette College WCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (17,275 students vs. 2,729 students)

Lafayette College vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or WCU?

  • Lafayette College is 653.1% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($58,110.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 201.2% higher at Lafayette College than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($58,110.00 vs. $19,290.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Lafayette College ($22,973 vs. $37,186)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 21.8% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($14,228 vs. $17,336)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lafayette College than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (98% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 359% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($24,981 vs. $5,443)

Lafayette College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lafayette College or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Lafayette College .

  • The average SAT score at Lafayette College (1294) is 222 points higher than at WCU (1072)
  • Incoming Lafayette College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at WCU (24)
  • Accepted freshman Lafayette College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at WCU (3.43)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Lafayette College (33.6%)

Lafayette College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lafayette College or WCU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WCU and Lafayette College.

  • The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (88% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $32,000 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $49,000)
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Lafayette College graduates. ($242 vs. $268)
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/