Lafayette College vs. Messiah University

Lafayette College and Messiah University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Lafayette College
Messiah University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Lafayette College (31.4% admitted vs 79%). Typical SAT 1430 vs 1230.
  • Cheaper after aid: Messiah University. Average net price is $29,408 vs $38,442 at Lafayette College.
  • Graduation: Lafayette College 88% vs Messiah University 74%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Lafayette College $81,000 vs Messiah University $48,600 (median).
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Key differences

Lafayette College Messiah University
Acceptance rate
Lafayette College more selective
Lafayette College31.4%
Messiah University79%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Lafayette College higher
Lafayette College1350-1500
Messiah University1110-1350
Average net price
Messiah University $9,034 less
Lafayette College$38,442
Messiah University$29,408
In-state tuition
Messiah University $23,158 less
Lafayette College$65,398
Messiah University$42,240
Out-of-state tuition
Messiah University $23,158 less
Lafayette College$65,398
Messiah University$42,240
Graduation rate
Lafayette College +14 pts
Lafayette College88%
Messiah University74%
Median earnings (10 years)
Lafayette College +$32,400
Lafayette College$81,000
Messiah University$48,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Lafayette College 10,195
  • Messiah University 2,458
  • Admitted
  • Lafayette College 3,206
  • Messiah University 1,941
  • Acceptance rate
  • Lafayette College 31.4%
  • Messiah University 79%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Lafayette College 21.8%
  • Messiah University 29.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lafayette College 1430
  • Messiah University 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lafayette College 32
  • Messiah University 28
  • Average high school GPA
  • Lafayette College 3.53
  • Messiah University 3.8
  • Typical high school grades
  • Lafayette College A-
  • Messiah University A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Lafayette College Exceptional
  • Messiah University Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Lafayette College High
  • Messiah University
  • SAT range
  • Lafayette College 1350-1500
  • Messiah University 1110-1350
  • ACT range
  • Lafayette College 31-33
  • Messiah University 26-31
  • Submit test scores
  • Lafayette College Test optional
  • Messiah University Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027
  • Messiah University
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Messiah University $42,240
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Messiah University $42,240
  • Room & board
  • Lafayette College $19,866
  • Messiah University $13,098
  • Average net price
  • Lafayette College $38,442
  • Messiah University $29,408
  • Average grant aid
  • Lafayette College $44,707
  • Messiah University $26,576
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Lafayette College 61%
  • Messiah University 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Lafayette College 88%
  • Messiah University 74%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Lafayette College $81,000
  • Messiah University $48,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Lafayette College 91%
  • Messiah University 85%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Lafayette College $26,000
  • Messiah University $25,989
  • Median loan payment
  • Lafayette College $268
  • Messiah University $268
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Lafayette College 10:1
  • Messiah University 12:1
  • Popular majors
  • Lafayette College
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Messiah University
    • Education (19%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Location
  • Lafayette College Easton, PA
  • Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PA
  • Setting
  • Lafayette College Large Suburban
  • Messiah University Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Lafayette College 2,775
  • Messiah University 3,373
  • Type
  • Lafayette College Private 4 Year
  • Messiah University Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Lafayette College #69
  • Messiah University #338

Comparable Facts

Compare Lafayette College in Easton, PA with Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Messiah University is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (3,373 students vs. 2,775 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lafayette College is located in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting); Messiah University is in Mechanicsburg, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Messiah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lafayette College 10:1; Messiah University 12:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah University are 34.1% lower than at Lafayette College ($13,098 vs. $19,866).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.8% higher at Lafayette College than at Messiah University (about $23,158 more per year; $65,398 vs. $42,240).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Messiah University than at Lafayette College (100% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 68.2% larger than aid received by Messiah University students ($44,707 vs. $26,576).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at Lafayette College than at Messiah University (32 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Lafayette College and Messiah University.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Messiah University average a 3.8 high school GPA, 0.27 higher than at Lafayette College (3.53).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Lafayette College vs. 29.1% at Messiah University.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Messiah University graduates have a $11 lower median loan debt than Lafayette College graduates ($25,989 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Messiah University and Lafayette College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($268 vs. $268).
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messiah University students, three years after graduation (91% vs. 85%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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