Colby College vs. Lafayette College

Should I go to Colby College or Lafayette College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colby College or Lafayette College 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Lehigh Bucknell Villanova Hamilton College Colgate Middlebury Tufts Fordham Vassar Union College Skidmore College University of Richmond
Colby College vs. Lafayette College comparison
Colby College Lafayette College College 3 College 4
Colby College Lafayette College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Colby College Lafayette College
Location Waterville, ME Easton, PA
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,299 2,729
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #44 #65
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu lafayette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College Lafayette College
Tuition (In State) $60,840 $58,110
Tuition (Out of State) $60,840 $58,110
Room & Board $16,330 $17,336
Avg Net Price $16,951 $37,186
Avg Grant Aid $61,714 $24,981
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 98%

Admission

Colby College Lafayette College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,890 10,500
Admitted 1,286 3,531
Acceptance Rate 7.6% 33.6%
Enrolled % 52.3% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.53
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 32/34 30/33
SAT Range 1430/1540 1330/1480
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 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Colby College Lafayette College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Engineering (19%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

Colby College Lafayette College
Graduation Rate 91% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $81,000
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $200 $268

Diversity

Colby College Lafayette College
% Men 48% 50%
% Women 52% 50%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 62% 67%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 11% 9%
% Unknown Race 7% 7%

Students

Colby College Lafayette College
% In-State 7% 16%
% Out-of-State 79% 76%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Lafayette College is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (2,729 students vs. 2,299 students)

Colby College vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or Lafayette College?

  • Colby College is 4.7% more expensive to attend than Lafayette College for in-state tuition ($60,840.00 vs. $58,110.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.7% higher at Colby College than Lafayette College ($60,840.00 vs. $58,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Lafayette College ($16,951 vs. $37,186)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 6.2% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($16,330 vs. $17,336)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lafayette College than Colby College (98% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 147% larger than aid received Lafayette College ($61,714 vs. $24,981)

Colby College vs. Lafayette College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 69 points higher than at Lafayette College (1294)
  • Incoming Colby College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Lafayette College (29)
  • Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Lafayette College (3.53)
  • Lafayette College has a higher acceptance rate (33.6%) than Colby College (7.6%)

Colby College vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College or Lafayette College? 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 Lafayette College and Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Lafayette College (91% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $7,600 more per year than Colby College graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $73,400)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $6,655 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($19,345 vs. $26,000)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than Lafayette College graduates. ($200 vs. $268)
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colby College students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 88%)

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