More selective than 91% of Pennsylvania colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
31% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 14% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Lafayette College over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
What Lafayette College weighs when deciding
How much each part of an application counts for first-year applicants, as Lafayette College reports it. Programs with their own criteria (nursing, music, honors) can weigh things differently.
- Rigor of high school courses
- High school GPA
- Class rank
- SAT/ACT scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- Your demonstrated interest
- First-generation college student
- Alumni relation (legacy)
- Where you live
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- State residency
- Religious affiliation
Item C7. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
High school GPA of Lafayette College first-year students
Share of fall 2025 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 3.56. Colleges report GPAs as they record them, weighted or not.
Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
38% of early decision applicants were admitted (356 of 937). Admitted students must enroll.
2,660 offered a spot, 1,316 took it, 171 admitted.
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Lafayette College SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Lafayette College is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 670 | 740 |
| SAT math | 680 | 760 |
| ACT composite | 31 | 33 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1350 | 1500 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Lafayette College admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 31% | 670–740 | 680–760 | 31–33 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 31% | 670–730 | 670–760 | 30–33 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Lafayette College compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Lafayette College has the 11th-lowest acceptance rate of 111 Pennsylvania colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Villanova University | 27% | 92% | $43,756 |
| 8 | Franklin and Marshall College | 28% | 84% | $36,425 |
| 9 | Bucknell University | 29% | 86% | $40,766 |
| 10 | Bryn Mawr College | 29% | 82% | $31,759 |
| 11 | Lafayette College | 31% | 88% | $34,433 |
| 12 | Gettysburg College | 39% | 83% | $31,490 |
| 13 | Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster | 41% | 69% | $42,478 |
| 14 | Dickinson College | 42% | 80% | $37,607 |
| 15 | Moravian University | 54% | 72% | $30,670 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Pennsylvania colleges →
Who enrolls at Lafayette College
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Lafayette College admissions questions
What is the Lafayette College acceptance rate?
Lafayette College accepts 31% of applicants, about 1 in 3. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 3,107 of 9,874 applicants were admitted.
Does Lafayette College require the SAT or ACT?
Lafayette College considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 31% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 14% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Lafayette College?
The middle 50% of Lafayette College enrolled first-year students scored 1350–1500 on the SAT and 31–33 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Lafayette College?
22% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (697 of 3,107).
What does Lafayette College look for in applicants?
Lafayette College reports these as very important for first-year applicants: rigor of high school courses, high school GPA. Important: class rank, sAT/ACT scores, essay, recommendations, interview, extracurricular activities, talent or ability, character and personal qualities, your demonstrated interest. Considered: first-generation college student, alumni relation (legacy), where you live, volunteer work, work experience. (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Does Lafayette College have early decision?
Yes. Lafayette College offers binding early decision; 38% of early decision applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (356 of 937).
How many students get off the Lafayette College waitlist?
For fall 2025, 2,660 applicants were offered a waitlist spot, 1,316 accepted one and 171 were admitted (13% of those who stayed on the list).
Is Lafayette College getting harder to get into?
Lafayette College accepted 31% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 31% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; Lafayette College's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Lafayette College overview