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Lehigh Virginia Tech Bucknell UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Villanova Michigan State| Lafayette College | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Lafayette College | Penn State | ||
| Location | Easton, PA | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,729 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #65 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lafayette.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Lafayette College | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $58,110 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $58,110 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,336 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $37,186 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $24,981 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 44% |
Admission |
Lafayette College | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,500 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 3,531 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 33.6% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.4% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.53 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 30/33 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1330/1480 | 1210/1390 | ||
| 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, 2024 |
Academics |
Lafayette College | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Lafayette College | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $81,000 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 91% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $277 |
Diversity |
Lafayette College | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 50% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 50% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 9% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 2% |
Students |
Lafayette College | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 16% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 76% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Lafayette College | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 2,729 students)
Lafayette College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or Penn State?
- Lafayette College is 216.4% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($58,110.00 vs. $18,368.00)
- Out of state tuition is 61.7% higher at Lafayette College than Penn State Main Campus ($58,110.00 vs. $35,946.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than Lafayette College ($26,747 vs. $37,186)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 36% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($12,744 vs. $17,336)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lafayette College than Penn State Main Campus (98% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 148.2% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($24,981 vs. $10,066)
Lafayette College vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Lafayette College or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Lafayette College .
- The average SAT score at Lafayette College (1294) is 92 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming Lafayette College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Penn State (27)
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (55.2%) than Lafayette College (33.6%)
Lafayette College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Lafayette College or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Lafayette College.
- The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than Penn State Main Campus (88% vs. 87%)
- Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $25,700 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $55,300)
- Lafayette College students graduate with a $818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,818)
- Lafayette College graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($268 vs. $277)
- More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/