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Compare Lafayette College vs Lehigh University

Easton, PA · Bethlehem, PA

Lafayette CollegeLehigh University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$34,433/yr$36,931/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$12,716/yr$16,917/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$16,000$21,960
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$7,445/yr$17,140/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$10,881/yr$18,722/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$12,581/yr$22,184/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$52,608/yr$48,751/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$170/mo$233/mo
Room & board (on campus)$19,866/yr$17,220/yr
Room & board (off campus)$19,866/yr$17,220/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,000/yr$1,000/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$1,150/yr$1,500/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$83,133/yr$80,856/yr
Tuition (in-state)$65,398/yr$64,980/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$65,398/yr$64,980/yr
Students with Pell Grants12%18%
Students taking federal loans20%37%
Getting in
Students who get accepted31%26%
SAT range (middle 50%)1350–15001370–1500
SAT average14241440
ACT range (middle 50%)31–3331–34
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 31–35 · Math 27–33English 31–35 · Math 28–33
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received9,87418,415
Students accepted3,1075,389
Students who enrolled6971,531
Accepted students who enroll22%28%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores31%33%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores14%10%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate88%88%
Freshmen who come back90%94%
Typical earnings 10 years in$91,410/yr$105,584/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$63,534–$133,083$72,507–$148,926
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)89%92%
White students graduating88%89%
Black students graduating84%91%
Hispanic students graduating85%82%
Asian students graduating79%87%
Typical earnings 6 years in$80,614/yr$88,810/yr
Earn more than a HS grad90%92%
Graduate on time80%80%
Pell students who graduate86%84%
First-gen students who finishNo data reported83%
Low-income students who finishNo data reported84%
Students who transfer out10%No data reported
Typical earnings 8 years in$84,452/yr$97,731/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 30% · Engineering 22% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 14%Business, Management & Marketing 23% · Engineering 22% · Computer & Information Sciences 13%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 30% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 23% of degrees
2nd most popular programEngineering — 22% of degreesEngineering — 22% of degrees
3rd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 14% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 13% of degrees
4th most popular programPsychology — 9% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees
5th most popular programMulti/Interdisciplinary Studies — 4% of degreesSocial Sciences — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Chemical Engineering — $79,602/yrBusiness Administration, Management and Operations — $117,962/yr
Degrees in STEM45%46%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment2,7575,898
Students per professor10 : 110 : 1
Graduate studentsNo data reported1,781
Average professor pay$12,663/mo$15,219/mo
Full-time professors87%85%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byMiddle States Commission on Higher EducationMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$111,341$90,738
SettingSuburb (large)City (small)
LocationEaston, PABethlehem, PA
RegionMid EastMid East
Founded18261865
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences FocusDoctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students6.9%6.5%
Men50%52%
Women50%48%
White students67%60%
Black students5.9%5%
Hispanic or Latino students9.9%11%
Asian students3.5%11%
Two or more races4.9%4.4%
Other / not reported2.4%2.6%
Special typeReligiously affiliatedNone
First-generation students15%17%
Part-time students0.5%1.4%
Students age 25+0.3%0.2%
Spent on teaching per student$25,883/yr$24,840/yr
Endowment$1.1B$1.9B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing2,5063,021
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$11,754/yr$9,680/yr
Meal plan charge$7,330/yr$6,790/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week20 meals/weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Religious affiliationPresbyterian Church (USA)No data reported
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationNoYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingNoNo
Student veteran organizationNoNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planYesYes
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FCSNCAA Division I-FCS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams2021
Student athletes613667
Athletic scholarships$13.9M$16.3M
Athletics budget$33.8M$45.3M
Athletics revenue$33.8M$45.3M
Recruiting spend$473,398$505,602

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.