At $32,496/yr net price, Lafayette College graduates earn $91,410/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $57,410/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $32,496 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $129,984 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $91,410/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$57,410/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 88.1% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $16,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,903/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,125/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,291/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,829/yr |
| $110,001+ | $49,830/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering, General. | Bachelor | $72,403 | |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $71,575 | |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor | $68,379 | $17,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $65,486 | $19,500 |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor | $65,332 | |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor | $65,238 | $16,000 |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $58,943 | $19,500 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | Bachelor | $57,318 | |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor | $48,823 | |
| International Relations and National Security Studies. | Bachelor | $48,198 | $16,620 |
The Risk Factor
88.1% of students at Lafayette College graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Lafayette College turns out solid financial returns. You borrow a median of $16,000 to finish, and ten years out the typical graduate earns well into the $90,000s. That debt-to-earnings gap is the core of the case for this school: you leave with less debt than a single year of many private colleges costs, and you earn enough to clear it fast.
The engineering programs are where the money is. General engineering, electrical, chemical, and mechanical all clear $65,000 early in your career, and math sits right there too. Chemical and mechanical engineering carry slightly higher median debt ($17,000 and $19,500), but the starting salaries justify it. Easton sits within reach of the Lehigh Valley and the Philadelphia-New Jersey corridor, where chemical and manufacturing employers hire this kind of graduate. If you come here for engineering or quantitative math, the payoff is real.
The risk is what isn't listed. Only engineering and math programs show earnings data here, and those skew high. Lafayette is a liberal arts college, so many of its graduates major in fields with no salary line above. If you enroll expecting humanities or social science outcomes to match the engineering numbers, you have no data to support that bet.
The net price tiers reward lower and middle incomes heavily. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay between roughly $5,000 and $12,000 a year. The $30,000-$48,000 band is the cheapest of all. Above $110,000, you pay close to $50,000 a year with no discount, which is the full sticker.
Lafayette fits you if you're coming for engineering or math, or if your family income falls under $75,000 and you qualify for the steep aid tiers. If you're full-pay and pointed at a non-STEM major, the return here is far less certain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lafayette College worth the cost compared to other schools?
Lafayette College graduates earn $91,410 annually after 10 years, which is solid but not exceptional for the $32,496 yearly net price. The relatively low median debt of $16,000 helps improve the overall value proposition.
Which Lafayette College programs offer the best return on investment?
Engineering programs at Lafayette College provide the strongest ROI, with general engineering majors earning $72,403 and electrical engineering graduates making $71,575 annually. Math majors also perform well at $65,332 per year.
How much debt do Lafayette College students typically graduate with?
Lafayette College students graduate with a median debt of $16,000, which is relatively low compared to national averages. This manageable debt load makes the college more financially viable than many peer institutions.
Does Lafayette College provide good financial aid to reduce costs?
With a net price of $32,496 after aid, Lafayette College offers decent financial assistance that brings costs below the full sticker price. However, families should still expect significant annual expenses even with aid.