Lafayette College

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Lafayette College is a private liberal arts college in Easton, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter and local residents and is named after Marquis de Lafayette, a hero of the American Revolution. The college focuses on undergraduate study in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering, with an emphasis on small classes and hands-on research.

Campus and students
The campus sits on College Hill above the Delaware River in the Lehigh Valley, about 70 miles west of New York City and 60 miles north of Philadelphia. Lafayette has about 2,700 undergraduate students. Its main campus covers 110 acres, with a separate 230-acre athletic complex, for a total of roughly 340 acres and 69 buildings. The campus features a mix of historical and modern buildings, including the Williams Center for the Arts, the Skillman Library, Pardee Hall, and Kirby Hall of Civil Rights. The college colors are maroon and white, and the teams are called the Leopards.

Academics
Lafayette offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in 37 fields and Bachelor of Science degrees in 14 fields, including six engineering majors: chemical, civil and environmental, electrical & computer, mechanical, engineering studies, and integrative engineering (the latter with focuses in robotics, environment and energy, and bioengineering). The school emphasizes small class sizes and undergraduate research opportunities. Historically, Lafayette has highlighted engineering within a liberal arts setting, and the college maintains strong programs across the sciences and humanities.

Admissions and financial aid
Lafayette uses the Common Application. In recent years the college introduced a no-loan financial aid approach for domestic students from families earning up to $150,000 (expanded in 2024 to $200,000), replacing loans with grants and work-study. For the class of 2029, about 10,500 applications were received and roughly 3,100 were accepted, an acceptance rate near 29%. The annual cost of attendance is around $83,600, making Lafayette one of the more expensive private colleges, though generous aid programs help many students.

Endowment and funding
As of 2024, Lafayette’s endowment was about $1.1 billion, providing support for financial aid, facilities, and academic programs.

Student life and housing
All students are guaranteed on-campus housing, with a variety of living options, including traditional halls, suites, apartments, and Greek housing on or near campus. About 39% of eligible students participate in fraternities or sororities. The college supports a robust student government (about 40 elected representatives) and many clubs and activities. The Lafayette newspaper, founded in 1870, and the college radio station WJRH (104.9 FM) are long-running student outlets. Other active student groups include the Lafayette Activities Forum (LAF), service fraternities, and student organizations focused on culture, academics, and the arts.

Athletics
Lafayette fields 23 NCAA Division I varsity teams in the Patriot League, along with numerous club and intramural opportunities. The school is known for a storied athletic tradition, including the long-running football rivalry with Lehigh University, known as “The Rivalry,” one of the oldest and most famous in American college sports.

Facilities and collections
The campus houses several notable facilities, including the Williams Center for the Arts, Pardee Hall, Kirby Hall of Civil Rights, the David Bishop Skillman Library (with the 1986 Simon Wing addition and a 2004 renovation), and extensive Special Collections. The library contains more than 500,000 volumes and extensive digital resources, including special collections tied to Lafayette’s history and the Marquis de Lafayette.

History highlights
Lafayette’s founders opened the college in 1829 after an 1824 meeting in Easton. It became affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in 1849. The school adapted to national needs during wars and economic challenges, expanding coeducation in 1970. In recent years, Alison Byerly served as president starting in 2013, followed by Nicole Hurd in 2021. The college has continued to grow its academic offerings, facilities, and financial aid programs.

Overall
Lafayette College combines a strong liberal arts and engineering curriculum with a close-knit undergraduate experience, substantial campus facilities, a tradition of service and leadership, and a commitment to making education accessible through generous financial aid.