Rutgers vs. Lafayette College

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Lafayette College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Lafayette College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Lafayette College Easton, PA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Lafayette College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Lafayette College 2,775
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Lafayette College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Lafayette College #69
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Lafayette College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Lafayette College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Lafayette College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Lafayette College $19,866
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Lafayette College $38,442
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Lafayette College $44,707
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Lafayette College 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Lafayette College 10,195
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Lafayette College 3,206
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Lafayette College 31.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Lafayette College 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Lafayette College 1430
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Lafayette College 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Lafayette College 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Lafayette College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Lafayette College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Lafayette College High
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Lafayette College 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Lafayette College 1350/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Lafayette College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Lafayette College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Lafayette College
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Lafayette College 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Lafayette College $81,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Lafayette College 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Lafayette College $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Lafayette College $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Lafayette College 50%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Lafayette College 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Lafayette College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Lafayette College No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Lafayette College 67%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Lafayette College 4%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Lafayette College 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Lafayette College 6%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Lafayette College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Lafayette College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Lafayette College 2%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Lafayette College 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Lafayette College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Lafayette College 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Lafayette College 78%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Lafayette College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Rutgers No
  • Lafayette College Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Lafayette College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Lafayette College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Lafayette College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Lafayette College in Easton, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 2,775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Lafayette College is in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Lafayette College 10:1.

Rutgers vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Lafayette College ($20,522 vs. $38,442).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 20.9% lower than at Lafayette College ($15,714 vs. $19,866).
  • Lafayette College is 264.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $47,469 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.7% higher at Lafayette College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $27,957 more per year; $65,398.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lafayette College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (61% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 167% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($44,707 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Lafayette College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lafayette College (1430) is 20 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Lafayette College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Lafayette College 1350/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Lafayette College 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Lafayette College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lafayette College students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Lafayette College (31.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 21.8% at Lafayette College.

Rutgers vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $14,800 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,000 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $3,785 lower median loan debt than Lafayette College graduates ($22,215 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lafayette College graduates ($229 vs. $268).
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 68%)

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.