Lafayette College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Lafayette College and Penn State Harrisburg side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Lafayette College
Penn State Harrisburg

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Lafayette College (31.4% admitted vs 97.6%). Typical SAT 1430 vs 1220.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State Harrisburg. Average net price is $23,788 vs $38,442 at Lafayette College.
  • Graduation: Lafayette College 88% vs Penn State Harrisburg 63%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Lafayette College $81,000 vs Penn State Harrisburg $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Lafayette College Penn State Harrisburg
Acceptance rate
Lafayette College more selective
Lafayette College31.4%
Penn State Harrisburg97.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Lafayette College higher
Lafayette College1350-1500
Penn State Harrisburg1120-1310
Average net price
Penn State Harrisburg $14,654 less
Lafayette College$38,442
Penn State Harrisburg$23,788
In-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $49,426 less
Lafayette College$65,398
Penn State Harrisburg$15,972
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $38,440 less
Lafayette College$65,398
Penn State Harrisburg$26,958
Graduation rate
Lafayette College +25 pts
Lafayette College88%
Penn State Harrisburg63%
Median earnings (10 years)
Lafayette College +$25,700
Lafayette College$81,000
Penn State Harrisburg$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Lafayette College 10,195
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,316
  • Admitted
  • Lafayette College 3,206
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,092
  • Acceptance rate
  • Lafayette College 31.4%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 97.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Lafayette College 21.8%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lafayette College 1430
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lafayette College 32
  • Penn State Harrisburg 26
  • Average high school GPA
  • Lafayette College 3.53
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3.48
  • Typical high school grades
  • Lafayette College A-
  • Penn State Harrisburg B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Lafayette College Exceptional
  • Penn State Harrisburg Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Lafayette College High
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • SAT range
  • Lafayette College 1350-1500
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1120-1310
  • ACT range
  • Lafayette College 31-33
  • Penn State Harrisburg 22-31
  • Submit test scores
  • Lafayette College Test optional
  • Penn State Harrisburg Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Penn State Harrisburg $15,972
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,958
  • Room & board
  • Lafayette College $19,866
  • Penn State Harrisburg $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Lafayette College $38,442
  • Penn State Harrisburg $23,788
  • Average grant aid
  • Lafayette College $44,707
  • Penn State Harrisburg $9,245
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Lafayette College 61%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Graduation rate
  • Lafayette College 88%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Lafayette College $81,000
  • Penn State Harrisburg $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Lafayette College 91%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Lafayette College $26,000
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Lafayette College $268
  • Penn State Harrisburg $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Lafayette College 10:1
  • Penn State Harrisburg 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Lafayette College
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Penn State Harrisburg
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Location
  • Lafayette College Easton, PA
  • Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PA
  • Setting
  • Lafayette College Large Suburban
  • Penn State Harrisburg Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Lafayette College 2,775
  • Penn State Harrisburg 4,478
  • Type
  • Lafayette College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Harrisburg Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Lafayette College #69
  • Penn State Harrisburg #574

Comparable Facts

Compare Lafayette College in Easton, PA with Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 2,775 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lafayette College is located in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lafayette College 10:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 27.1% lower than at Lafayette College ($14,474 vs. $19,866).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 142.6% higher at Lafayette College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $38,440 more per year; $65,398 vs. $26,958).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Harrisburg than at Lafayette College (63% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 383.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($44,707 vs. $9,245).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 6 points higher at Lafayette College than at Penn State Harrisburg (32 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Lafayette College and Penn State Harrisburg.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Lafayette College average a 3.53 high school GPA, 0.05 higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Lafayette College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lafayette College graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Lafayette College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation (91% vs. 69%).

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

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