Lafayette College vs Colgate University
Lafayette College and Colgate University, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Lafayette, situated in Easton, Pennsylvania, boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate (34%) compared to Colgate's 27% in Hamilton, New York. While Lafayette's student body is more diverse, with international students comprising 12% of the population, Colgate's student body is slightly larger, with an undergraduate enrollment of 2,900 students. Both institutions excel in academics, with Lafayette's popular majors including engineering, business, and government & law, while Colgate's strengths lie in economics, biology, and English. With graduation rates hovering around 88% for both universities, students can expect a supportive environment that fosters academic success. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these exceptional institutions and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Colgate University |
![]() Lafayette College |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Hamilton, New York | Easton, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 93.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 17.2% | 40.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$50
|
$65 |
SAT range | 1350 - 1500 | 1300 - 1460 |
ACT range | 32 - 34 | 30 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 29.0% | 28.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 21.0% | 13.0% |
Total number of applicants | 17,540 | 8,262 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,015 | 3,366 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 887 | 782 |
Yield rate | 29.4% | 23.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $80,160 | $75,934 |
Average net price | $24,500 | $38,754 |
Tuition | $61,594 | $55,874 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,496
Meal plan:
$8,028
|
Room/dormitory:
$10,308
Meal plan:
$6,362
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
41.0%
Average amount $53,718 |
61.0%
Average amount $34,668 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
11.0%
Average amount $4,253 |
26.0%
Average amount $4,491 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $34,492 |
7.0%
Average amount $23,831 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
3,164
Men 45.0% Women 55.0% |
2,725
Men 51.2% Women 48.8% |
Graduate students |
12
Men 41.7% Women 58.3% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 75.2% | 82.6% |
International students | 8.8% | 7.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,972 | 2,510 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York New Jersey Connecticut California Pennsylvania | New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Mississippi Connecticut |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 90.3% | 87.9% |
Dropout rate | 2.8% | 2.5% |
Transferred out | 6.7% | 9.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.

















































































































































































































