Lafayette College vs. Penn

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

Lafayette College
University of Pennsylvania

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn (5.4% admitted vs 31.4%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1430.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn. Average net price is $23,570 vs $38,442 at Lafayette College.
  • Graduation: Lafayette College 88% vs Penn 96%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Lafayette College $81,000 vs Penn $123,600 (median).
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Key differences

Lafayette College University of Pennsylvania
Acceptance rate
Penn more selective
Lafayette College31.4%
Penn5.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn higher
Lafayette College1350-1500
Penn1510-1570
Average net price
Penn $14,872 less
Lafayette College$38,442
Penn$23,570
In-state tuition
Lafayette College $3,288 less
Lafayette College$65,398
Penn$68,686
Out-of-state tuition
Lafayette College $3,288 less
Lafayette College$65,398
Penn$68,686
Graduation rate
Penn +8 pts
Lafayette College88%
Penn96%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn +$42,600
Lafayette College$81,000
Penn$123,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Lafayette College 10,195
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • Lafayette College 3,206
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance rate
  • Lafayette College 31.4%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Lafayette College 21.8%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lafayette College 1430
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lafayette College 32
  • Penn 35
  • Average high school GPA
  • Lafayette College 3.53
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical high school grades
  • Lafayette College A-
  • Penn A
  • Admissions standards
  • Lafayette College Exceptional
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Lafayette College High
  • Penn Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Lafayette College 1350-1500
  • Penn 1510-1570
  • ACT range
  • Lafayette College 31-33
  • Penn 34-36
  • Submit test scores
  • Lafayette College Test optional
  • Penn Required
  • Application deadline
  • Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Lafayette College $65,398
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & board
  • Lafayette College $19,866
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average net price
  • Lafayette College $38,442
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average grant aid
  • Lafayette College $44,707
  • Penn $65,458
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Lafayette College 61%
  • Penn 51%
  • Graduation rate
  • Lafayette College 88%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Lafayette College $81,000
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Lafayette College 91%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Lafayette College $26,000
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median loan payment
  • Lafayette College $268
  • Penn $213
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Lafayette College 10:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Lafayette College
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • Lafayette College Easton, PA
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Lafayette College Large Suburban
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Lafayette College 2,775
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • Lafayette College Private 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Lafayette College #69
  • Penn #23

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 2,775 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lafayette College is located in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lafayette College 10:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pennsylvania are 3.5% lower than at Lafayette College ($19,174 vs. $19,866).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at Penn than at Lafayette College (about $3,288 more per year; $68,686 vs. $65,398).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lafayette College than at University of Pennsylvania (61% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 46.4% larger than aid received by Lafayette College students ($65,458 vs. $44,707).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Penn than at Lafayette College (35 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Lafayette College, required at Penn.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Penn average a 3.95 high school GPA, 0.42 higher than at Lafayette College (3.53).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Lafayette College vs. 68% at Penn.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $5,367 lower median loan debt than Lafayette College graduates ($20,633 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lafayette College graduates ($213 vs. $268).
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation (91% vs. 84%).

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

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