RIT vs. Lafayette College

Comparable Facts

Compare Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY with Lafayette College in Easton, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 2,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); Lafayette College is in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; Lafayette College 10:1.

RIT vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT or Lafayette College? 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 Lafayette College than RIT ($38,442 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 18.7% lower than at Lafayette College ($16,142 vs. $19,866).
• Lafayette College is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $6,124 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.3% higher at Lafayette College than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $6,124 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Lafayette College (98% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 27.5% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($44,707 vs. $35,077).

RIT vs. Lafayette College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lafayette College (1430) is 50 points higher than at RIT (1380).
• Incoming Lafayette College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at RIT ).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; Lafayette College 1350/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33; Lafayette College 31/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - Test optional; Lafayette College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027; Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Lafayette College (3.53).
• RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Lafayette College (31.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 21.8% at Lafayette College.

RIT vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIT and Lafayette College? 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
• Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $16,100 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,000 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lafayette College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($26,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Lafayette College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($268 vs. $289).
• More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.