Lafayette is a small liberal arts college in Easton, Pennsylvania, about 2,700 students, and one of the few that also offers real engineering degrees. It admitted about 31% of applicants for the Class of 2029, and Early Decision applicants were admitted at a noticeably higher rate (356 of 937). Testing is optional for students entering in fall 2027 and fall 2028, and the Common App is the only way to apply. Here is the part most families miss: Lafayette meets 100% of demonstrated need, but merit money is selective and small in number. How you plan depends on which of those two buckets your family falls into.
🏆 Full tuition available (Marquis Fellowship, Posse Scholarship)
Average Net Price
$38,442/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
Half to full tuition (Marquis) or $17,500 to $31,500/yr (Cur Non)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
11 opportunities
4 automatic · 4 competitive · 3 hidden gem
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-optional
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 15 • FAFSA: Jan 15
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Marquis Fellowship and Posse (full tuition); athletic full rides for recruits
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA & CSS Profile
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Lafayette College (Read This First)
“No separate application” does not mean guaranteed. Marquis and Cur Non scholarships are picked from the admission file. There are no published GPA or test cutoffs, and only a slice of the class gets one.
If merit money is a deal-breaker, Lafayette itself says apply Regular Decision. Early Decision applicants are considered for merit, but ED is binding, so you lose the chance to compare offers.
For families with need, merit does not stack on top. If your need is bigger than your merit award, Lafayette fills the gap with need-based aid, but the total stops at your need. Merit changes the label, not the bottom line.
Aid forms are due the same day as the application. CSS Profile, FAFSA and IDOC tax documents are due November 15 for ED I and January 15 for ED II and Regular Decision. Miss them and you can lose College-funded aid.
Test-optional, but scores still talk. Lafayette says Marquis offers typically go to students with scores above the admitted-student average. If your scores are strong, sending them can help with merit.
The first-year bill has a one-time $750 fee that disappears after the first semester, so year one is a little higher than the rest.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Lafayette College is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 31-34; SAT: 1360-1490.
Average net price? About $38,442/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Lafayette College: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Lafayette College has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,800 to $4,600 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$91,742
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$70,846
Housing & meals (typical)
$20,896
Total billed cost
$91,742
Average federal net price: $38,442 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
Private college with a single tuition and required-fee schedule for all undergraduates; tuition figures exclude room and board, and no residency-based waivers or regional reciprocity programs are described.
Same Price for Every State, Very Different Prices by Income
As a private college, Lafayette charges everyone the same sticker price, whether you live in Pennsylvania or California. What changes the price is your family’s finances. Lafayette guarantees to meet 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students who file the CSS Profile and FAFSA on time, and for domestic families earning $200,000 or less with typical assets, it replaces federal loans with grant money. Run the Net Price Calculator before you rule Lafayette in or out.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Lafayette College
What does Lafayette actually cost in 2026-2027?
Lafayette’s own billed total is $92,492 for a first-year student: $70,486 tuition, a $360 activity fee, $12,968 for a standard room, $7,928 for the required 20-meal plan, and a one-time $750 matriculation fee. After year one, that fee goes away. Lafayette also budgets about $2,190 a year for books, travel and personal costs that are not on the bill.
What do families really pay after aid?
The federal average net price was $38,442 for 2023-24. That average hides huge swings by income: families earning $75,000 to $110,000 paid about $12,581 on average, while families above $110,000 paid about $52,608. Your number depends almost entirely on your financial aid review.
Does Lafayette really meet full need?
Yes. Lafayette says it is one of 73 colleges that guarantee to meet 100% of demonstrated need for applicants who meet the deadlines, and its Common Data Set shows every aided student had full need met. Keep in mind that “need” is Lafayette’s calculation using the CSS Profile, which can come out higher than the federal number.
What is the No-Loan Initiative?
For domestic students entering in 2024-25 and later, Lafayette replaces federal loans in the aid package with grants when total family income is $200,000 or less and assets are typical for that income. Retirement accounts do not count as assets.
Are there out-of-state discounts or reciprocity programs?
No. Lafayette is private, so there is one price for everyone and no regional exchange. About 84% of first-years come from outside Pennsylvania. Students from Pennsylvania and 11 other states (Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia) must apply for their state grant, which Lafayette counts before its own grant.
Will our aid change after freshman year?
Need-based aid is recalculated every year. You reapply with the CSS Profile, FAFSA and tax documents, and the award reflects tuition increases, changes in income or assets, and how many siblings are in college. Marquis awards rise with tuition; Cur Non awards are a fixed dollar amount.
Do divorced parents both have to file?
Usually, yes. The custodial parent completes the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the noncustodial parent completes the separate noncustodial CSS Profile. Lafayette notes that no more than two parents are expected to contribute, even when stepparents are involved.
November 15: Early Decision I application, plus CSS Profile, FAFSA and IDOC if you want need-based aid. Merit is considered from the application itself.
January 15: Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications and aid forms. Lafayette suggests merit seekers submit a few weeks earlier.
February 1: CaPA Scholars application deadline.
Mid-December, mid-February, late March: ED I, ED II and Regular Decision results, with any merit award named in the acceptance letter.
Parent rule of thumb: at Lafayette, the admission deadline is the merit deadline. Treat the aid forms as part of the application, not a follow-up chore.
Merit Scholarships (No Separate Application): Lafayette College
Every first-year applicant is considered for the Marquis Fellowship (full tuition), Marquis Scholarship (half tuition) and Cur Non Scholarship ($17,500 to $31,500 a year). You do not fill out anything extra, but these are selective, not guaranteed. There are no published GPA or test cutoffs. Lafayette weighs your curriculum, grades, class rank, optional test scores and the difference you have made in your school and community. The need-based Lafayette College Grant is listed here too because it is packaged automatically once your aid forms are in.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Pennsylvania State Grant
📅 Deadline: FAFSA and State Grant Form by May 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$6,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Pennsylvania resident with financial need; FAFSA plus the PA State Grant Form by May 1 for four-year schools; no GPA or test score; amount from PHEAA's need formula, 2026-27 maximum $6,000
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pennsylvania's main need grant, up to $6,000 a year in 2026-27 for the lowest-income families, less as income rises. Stacks with Pell and with every college award. Part-time enrollment cuts the award. Renew with a FAFSA by May 1 every year.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Lafayette College award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Need-based students who got both the FAFSA and the separate State Grant Form in by May 1. The second form is the miss: it is a PHEAA document, not a FAFSA step, and first-time applicants who skip it get nothing even with a perfect FAFSA.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyservice
Grow PA Scholarship Grant
📅 Deadline: PHEAA application; 2026-27 window ran to Jan 7, 2027; next window not announced ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Pennsylvania resident, at least half time in one of 460-plus eligible in-demand programs, no bachelor's degree yet; no income test; separate PHEAA application; signs a promissory note
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $5,000 a year for up to four years in an in-demand major, with a string attached: finish the degree and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand field for as many years as you received the grant, or it converts to a loan. Stacks with the State Grant and college aid. First-come by application date.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Lafayette College award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in nursing, education, engineering, trades, and the other listed fields who are sure they will stay in Pennsylvania after graduation. For anyone who might move, this is a loan with a nice name; the conversion is automatic and comes with interest.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyneed based
Ready to Succeed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application; FAFSA and State Grant Form early ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 3 yrs)
$500–$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAPennsylvania resident; 2.5 cumulative GPA and 24 completed credits, so it starts sophomore year; family income under the state cap (PHEAA lists $200,000; some college pages still show $175,000); nominated by participating colleges from the FAFSA and State Grant Form, in order of completion date
✚
Stacking & Combining
A merit-plus-need award that kicks in after freshman year: with the PA State Grant it tops out at $2,500 a year full time, $1,250 part time, minimum $500. For middle-income families above the State Grant range this is often the only state money. Stacks with college aid. First-come by FAFSA date.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Lafayette College award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Sophomores and up with a 2.5 whose families earn too much for the State Grant but under the cap, and who filed early. It is nominated by the college, not applied for, so the families who never hear about it are the ones who assumed state aid was only for low income.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Full TuitionAutomatic
Marquis Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Early Decision I: November 15; Early Decision II and Regular Decision: January 15 (merit is considered from the admission application) · 📢 Results: Named in your acceptance letter and applicant portal on the day your admission decision is released. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
If you also apply for need-based aid and your demonstrated need is larger than the Fellowship, Lafayette adds need-based aid up to your full need. Total Lafayette aid is capped at demonstrated need for aid applicants and can never exceed the full cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Full-tuition merit scholarship. The value is tied to Lafayette's tuition and rises each year when tuition goes up. Renewable for up to eight full-time semesters with a 3.00 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
A very small group of top admits, typically at the top of their class in the most demanding courses available, with test scores above the admitted-student average if they submit them, plus real leadership or community impact.
Automatic
Marquis Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early Decision I: November 15; Early Decision II and Regular Decision: January 15 (merit is considered from the admission application) · 📢 Results: Announced in your acceptance letter and applicant portal on the day your admission decision is released. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Lafayette's need-based grant up to your demonstrated need. If your need is larger than the scholarship, Lafayette fills the rest with need-based aid. Total Lafayette aid can never exceed the full cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Half-tuition merit scholarship. The value is tied to Lafayette's tuition and rises each year with tuition. Renewable for up to eight full-time semesters with a 3.00 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: High-achieving admits just below the Fellowship tier: top grades in a rigorous curriculum, strong scores if submitted, and meaningful school or community involvement.
Automatic
Cur Non Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early Decision I: November 15; Early Decision II and Regular Decision: January 15 (merit is considered from the admission application) · 📢 Results: You will see your merit award noted in your acceptance letter and Lafayette applicant portal on the same day your admission decision is released. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$17,500–$31,500/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Lafayette's need-based grant up to your demonstrated need. If your need is larger than the Cur Non award, Lafayette fills the rest with need-based aid. Total Lafayette aid can never exceed the full cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Merit scholarship ranging from $17,500 to $31,500 per year, granted annually for up to eight full-time semesters. Unlike the Marquis awards, Cur Non is a fixed dollar range rather than a share of tuition. Lafayette publishes the 3.00 GPA renewal rule for Marquis awards, so check your award letter for the Cur Non renewal standard.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong, curious admits just below the Marquis tiers, with a rigorous course load, solid grades, and genuine leadership or community engagement in the file.
Automatic
Lafayette College Grant
📅 Deadline: Financial aid forms (CSS Profile, FAFSA, IDOC): Early Decision I: November 15; Early Decision II and Regular Decision: January 15 · 📢 Results: Your grant appears in your aid package on the applicant portal once admission decisions are released. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers with Marquis and Cur Non awards up to your demonstrated need. Federal and state grants are applied first, so a Pell or state grant that arrives later reduces the Lafayette grant dollar for dollar. Private outside scholarships reduce loans and work-study first.
💡
Strategic Detail
Need-based grant funded by Lafayette. Lafayette guarantees to meet 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students who file on time. Under the No-Loan Initiative, domestic families with total income of $200,000 or less and typical assets receive grant money in place of federal loans. You reapply every year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted students whose CSS Profile and FAFSA show a gap between what the family can pay and what Lafayette costs. There is no automatic income cutoff.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: In 2026-2027, a Marquis Fellowship is worth $70,486 and a Marquis Scholarship about $35,243, and both grow when tuition goes up. Students receive one merit award. If your family also has demonstrated need, the merit award counts toward that need rather than on top of it.
Merit Scholarships: FAQs (Lafayette College)
How do I apply for a Marquis or Cur Non scholarship?
You do not apply separately. Your Common App is your scholarship application. Lafayette encourages an admissions interview and recommends that merit seekers submit a few weeks ahead of the January 15 deadline.
Are these scholarships guaranteed if my student has high grades?
No. Offers typically go to students at the top of their class in the most demanding courses available, with scores above the admitted-student average if they submit them. In 2024-25, 139 first-year students without financial need received merit aid, averaging $19,371. That is roughly one in five students in the class.
Should we apply Early Decision if we are counting on merit?
Lafayette’s own advice is no. ED applicants are considered for every scholarship, but if your enrollment critically depends on merit, Lafayette says to apply Regular Decision so you can compare offers before committing.
Does Lafayette superscore?
Yes. If you submit scores, Lafayette takes your best section scores across test dates for both the SAT and ACT, and it accepts self-reported scores during the application.
Can my student get merit and need-based aid together?
Yes, but for families with need, they do not add up past your demonstrated need. If your need is larger than the merit award, the Lafayette College Grant fills the rest. If you have no need, merit is simply a discount on the price.
How do merit scholarships renew?
All Marquis and Cur Non awards are granted for up to eight semesters of full-time study. Marquis awards require a 3.00 cumulative GPA. Check your award letter for the Cur Non renewal standard.
Who gets the Lafayette College Grant?
Any admitted student whose CSS Profile and FAFSA show demonstrated need. There is no automatic income cutoff. Federal and state grants are applied first, and the Lafayette grant covers the rest of your need, with grants replacing federal loans for families at $200,000 or less in income with typical assets.
Lafayette does not run an essay-and-interview scholarship contest like some universities do. Its biggest merit awards come straight from the admission file (see above). The competitive awards here are pathways: Posse for nominated students from New York City and Washington, D.C., athletic scholarships for recruits, CaPA for creative students, and Tuition Exchange for children of college employees.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Lafayette?
Aid Type
Stacks?
Parent Translation
Marquis / Cur Non merit
Up to need
One merit award per student. With need, it counts toward your need; without need, it is a straight discount.
Lafayette College Grant
Fills the gap
Covers whatever need is left after merit and federal or state grants.
Posse
Yes, up to need
Full tuition, with more need-based aid on top for housing and meals if you qualify.
Athletic scholarships
Tightly limited
NCAA and Patriot League rules control the mix, and total aid cannot exceed cost of attendance.
Tuition Exchange
Counts against need
Treated as an employment benefit, so Lafayette lowers its own grant to match.
Private outside scholarships
Yes
They reduce loans and work-study first. Lafayette grants drop only if your total aid would exceed the full cost.
Federal and state grants, veteran benefits
Replace
These are applied first and lower the Lafayette grant dollar for dollar.
For a family with demonstrated need, Lafayette’s generosity comes mostly through the need-based grant, not through stacking awards. Outside private scholarships are the one place where extra money can still work in your favor, because they replace loans and work hours before they touch grant money.
Full TuitionApp Requiredpipelinegeographic
Posse Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Posse nomination and selection timelines are set by the Posse Foundation; selected Scholars apply Early Decision I (November 15) and file the FAFSA by November 15 · 📢 Results: Selection is communicated through the Posse Foundation, and the Lafayette Early Decision I admission decision follows. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
⚠ Open only to students nominated through Posse New York City or Posse Washington, D.C.
👥 ~Ten Scholars per cohort from each partner Posse city (New York City and Washington, D.C.). winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Additional Lafayette need-based aid can be added on top, up to demonstrated need and the full cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Get nominated for Posse in New York City or Washington, D.C., then complete Posse's interview rounds. Selected Scholars commit to Lafayette through Early Decision I and file the FAFSA on that timeline.
🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Full-tuition scholarship for 10 students per year from each of Lafayette's two Posse partner cities, New York City and Washington, D.C. Scholars apply Early Decision I and file the FAFSA by the Early Decision I deadline. Renewal follows Lafayette's grant terms: satisfactory academic progress, full-time enrollment, up to eight semesters.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Seniors nominated by their high school or a community organization in New York City or Washington, D.C. who advance through Posse's multi-round selection process. Posse looks for academic strength plus leadership and teamwork.
Full RideApp Requiredathletics
Lafayette Athletic Scholarship
📅 Deadline: FAFSA: Early Decision I: November 15; Regular Decision: January 15 · 📢 Results: Athletic offers come through the recruiting process and appear with your admission and aid package. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
tuition_room_board_fees_books
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Recruited student-athletes in Lafayette's 10 scholarship sports only.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Athletic aid follows NCAA and Patriot League rules, and total aid cannot exceed the full cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Get on a coach's radar in one of the 10 scholarship sports, complete the recruiting and admission process, and file the FAFSA by November 15 (Early Decision I) or January 15 (Regular Decision).
💡
Strategic Detail
Lafayette offers athletic scholarships in 10 sports: men's and women's basketball, field hockey, football, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, and women's volleyball. A full award covers tuition, fees, a standard room (rate 1), board and books; partial awards are also given. Recipients follow NCAA rules, stay on the team, and file the FAFSA every year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Recruited student-athletes in the 10 scholarship sports who meet Lafayette's academic standards and receive a formal offer from the coaching staff.
App Required
Creative and Performing Arts (CaPA) Scholars
📅 Deadline: February 1 (after submitting the admission application) · 📢 Results: Decisions typically go out between the end of March and mid-April. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$7,500
✔ Stackable
👥 ~8 to 10 students per year winners/yrIncoming first-year students; a small number of current students are added by faculty nomination.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Lafayette describes CaPA as funding for your art (supplies, instruments, equipment, cultural experiences), not tuition money. Confirm with Financial Aid how it appears in your package.
📄
How to Apply
Submit your admission application first. Your portal login arrives the day after you apply. Then submit both the CaPA application and the Supplemental Arts Portfolio through the applicant portal by February 1. Each form can be submitted only once, so prepare everything ahead of time.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Maggin Creative and Performing Arts Initiative gives 8 to 10 incoming students $7,500 over four years to develop their creativity. Each scholar partners with a professional adviser in their discipline on projects that reach the campus community.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Creative, passionate students in any discipline, including economics, engineering and science majors, who want to use their art to spark conversation on campus.
App Requiredemployer benefit
Tuition Exchange Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Standard admission deadlines (Early Decision I: November 15; Early Decision II and Regular Decision: January 15); aid forms by the same dates if applying for need-based aid · 📢 Results: Lafayette expects Tuition Exchange decisions to be released no later than April 1. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Only for dependents of employees at Tuition Exchange member institutions, certified by the parent's employer.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Tuition Exchange is treated as an employment benefit, not an outside scholarship, so its value is applied toward your demonstrated need and the Lafayette grant is adjusted to match.
📄
How to Apply
Ask the Tuition Exchange liaison at your parent's employer to certify eligibility, apply to Lafayette by the admission deadline, and file the CSS Profile and FAFSA on time if you also want need-based aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Lafayette participates in Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange for dependent children of employees at member colleges. Selection is highly competitive, made by the Office of Admissions, and usually limited to first-year applicants. Expect notification no later than April 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-year applicants whose parent works at a Tuition Exchange member institution and who stand out in a small, highly competitive pool.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How does the Posse Scholarship at Lafayette work?
Lafayette partners with Posse in New York City and Washington, D.C., and gives full-tuition scholarships to 10 students from each city every year. You have to be nominated by your high school or a community organization in one of those cities. Selected Scholars apply Early Decision I and file the FAFSA by November 15.
Which sports offer athletic scholarships?
Ten: men’s and women’s basketball, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, and women’s volleyball. A full award covers tuition, fees, a standard room, board and books, and partial awards are also given. The process starts with a coach, not an application.
What is the CaPA Scholarship?
It gives 8 to 10 incoming students $7,500 over four years to develop their art, paired with a professional adviser. You do not have to be an arts major. Submit the CaPA application and the arts portfolio through your applicant portal by February 1, after you apply for admission.
My spouse works at another college. Can we use Tuition Exchange?
Possibly. Lafayette is a member, but selection is highly competitive and usually limited to first-year applicants. Your employer’s Tuition Exchange liaison certifies eligibility, and decisions come by April 1. The award counts against your need, so it lowers your Lafayette grant.
Does my employer’s tuition benefit hurt our aid?
For students entering in fall 2026 and later, Lafayette treats an employer tuition benefit as an outside scholarship. That means it reduces loans and work-study first instead of cutting your Lafayette grant.
What should my student prepare?
For merit, a polished Common App and an admissions interview matter. Lafayette focuses on your top six activities, so list the ones that mean the most first. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder can help organize the story.
🧠 Parent Strategy: Make Outside Money Hit Your Loans, Not Your Grant
At many colleges, winning an outside scholarship just shrinks the college’s own grant. Lafayette works differently: private outside scholarships reduce the loan and work-study parts of your package first, and Lafayette grants are cut only if your total aid would go over the full cost of attendance.
Apply for local and national scholarships senior year, even small ones.
Report every award on Lafayette’s outside scholarship form as soon as you receive it.
Starting fall 2026, list a parent’s employer tuition benefit too; it is now treated the same way.
Once on campus, ask professors about EXCEL research jobs and keep an eye out for fellowship advising.
Parent translation: at Lafayette, outside scholarships are one of the few ways to push your out-of-pocket cost below what the aid formula says.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These are not the awards you hear about on campus tours, but they pay for real things: research jobs with free summer housing, a scholars house, national fellowships, and extra tuition help for veterans.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
EXCEL Scholars Program (Paid Faculty Research)
📅 Deadline: Set by faculty nomination cycles for summer, January interim and semester terms ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~More than 160 students per year winners/yr🎓 UpperclassmenOpen to full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors in all disciplines with at least a 3.00 GPA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
EXCEL pay is earnings for research work rather than a scholarship. Ask Financial Aid how summer earnings factor into the next year's aid review.
📄
How to Apply
You do not apply directly. A faculty member nominates you by submitting a project proposal to the Academic Research Committee. Talk with professors in your major early, ask about their research, and let them know you want to be considered.
💡
Strategic Detail
Paid research assistant positions working side by side with a faculty member on real projects in engineering, the sciences, humanities and social sciences. Scholars can work full time in the summer (10 weeks) and January interim (3 weeks), and part time during the semester. Free college housing is provided during summer and interim. More than 160 students take part each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who build relationships with professors, usually after strong work in their courses, and who want hands-on research experience before graduate school or a first job.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
McKelvy Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Spring semester nomination and interview cycle ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~About 25 members winners/yr🎓 UpperclassmenMembers are sophomores through seniors; nominations and interviews happen in the spring.
✚
Stacking & Combining
There is no published dollar value, so nothing changes in your scholarship or grant package.
📄
How to Apply
Students do not apply. Ask a professor to nominate you, then complete the interview with a committee of faculty and current scholars. Selection runs in the spring semester, and members live in McKelvy House their first year in the program.
Selection criteria: Selected by a committee of faculty and current McKelvy Scholars.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
A residential scholars community of about 25 sophomores, juniors and seniors living in McKelvy House, a historic mansion on College Hill. Members lead weekly Sunday evening discussions over dinner. Lafayette publishes no tuition or housing discount for members; the program budget pays for Sunday dinners and program costs. Think of it as an intellectual home base, not a money award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Intellectually curious students from any major whom professors notice for their engagement in class discussion and campus life.
📅 Deadline: Varies by program; Goldwater and Udall are open to sophomores and juniors, Truman to juniors, and Gilman and Boren to all class years Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Determined by each external fellowship organization winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Under Lafayette's outside scholarship policy, outside awards reduce loans and work-study first, and Lafayette grants are reduced only if total resources exceed the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Meet with the fellowships office early. For endorsed awards, complete Lafayette's campus application and the Nomination Permission and Waiver Form, then submit the national application once endorsed.
Selection criteria: Highly selective national competitions emphasizing academic excellence, research or service potential, leadership, and clear post-graduate goals.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Lafayette's fellowships office advises students on major national awards. Some require a Lafayette campus endorsement before you can apply, including Goldwater, Truman, Udall, Gilman, Boren, Fulbright, Rhodes and Marshall. Award values are set by each outside program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with strong records and clear research, service or graduate plans who start early with the fellowships office.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlymilitary
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill Match)
📅 Deadline: Rolling; first come, first served once a complete Certificate of Eligibility is on file ✓ Renews
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Only for eligible Post-9/11 GI Bill recipients.
👥 ~Up to 10 students winners/yr🎓 All UndergradPost-9/11 GI Bill recipients; selection is first come, first served based on eligibility.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Veteran benefits are not treated as outside scholarships at Lafayette. If benefits arrive after your need-based package is set, the Lafayette grant portion is adjusted.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a complete Certificate of Eligibility to the Office of Financial Aid, and give it to the School Certifying Official in the Registrar's Office before the term in which you want to use benefits.
💡
Strategic Detail
Lafayette provides $10,000 in grant assistance toward the gap between tuition and the GI Bill cap for up to 10 students, and the VA matches it. Funding continues subject to ongoing eligibility and Lafayette's participation in the program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Veterans and eligible dependents using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, with priority for students who have 36 months of eligibility.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Also Worth Knowing
Lafayette-Easton Scholarship: awarded each year to graduates of Easton Area High School, as part of more than $1 million a year Lafayette directs to students from Easton’s three ZIP codes. Lafayette does not publish the dollar amount.
Army ROTC: Lafayette students can join Army ROTC through Lehigh University’s Steel Battalion, with some classes held on Lafayette’s campus. Army ROTC scholarships can cover full tuition and fees plus a book allowance and stipend, with a service commitment.
Your state grant: students from Pennsylvania and 11 other states must apply for their state grant. It does not add extra money, because it replaces part of the Lafayette grant, but skipping it can hold up your aid.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
How does my student become an EXCEL Scholar?
You do not apply. A professor nominates you with a project proposal. Students need to be sophomores or older with at least a 3.00 GPA. EXCEL Scholars can work full time in the summer and January interim with free campus housing, and part time during the semester.
Is the McKelvy Scholars Program a scholarship?
Not in the money sense. It is a residential community of about 25 students living in a historic mansion with weekly Sunday discussions over dinner, and the program pays for the dinners and events. Professors nominate students, and selection happens in the spring.
What help is there for national awards like Goldwater or Fulbright?
Lafayette’s fellowships office walks students through awards such as Goldwater, Truman, Udall, Gilman, Boren and Fulbright. Several require a campus endorsement first, so students should start the conversation a year ahead of the deadline.
We are a military family. What does Lafayette offer?
Lafayette takes part in Yellow Ribbon, adding $10,000 a year in grant help for up to 10 students, matched by the VA. Selection is first come, first served, with priority for 36 months of eligibility. Veteran benefits count against need-based aid, so the Lafayette grant is adjusted if benefits arrive later.
Can current students still find money?
Yes. EXCEL, McKelvy and the fellowships are all for students already at Lafayette, and need-based aid is reviewed every year. If your family’s income drops, Lafayette accepts aid appeals with documentation.
Lafayette’s Version of Honors: Scholar Communities
Lafayette does not have a separate honors college. At a school of about 2,700 students with a 10-to-1 student-faculty ratio, the small-class, close-to-professors experience an honors college promises at a big university is simply how Lafayette works. What it does have is a set of scholar communities, some that come with money and some that come with opportunity.
Honors-Style Programs at Lafayette
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
Marquis Scholars and Fellows: every Marquis award recipient joins a student-led community that hosts speakers, film screenings and debates, with faculty advisors supporting the group.
McKelvy Scholars: about 25 sophomores through seniors, nominated by faculty, who live together in McKelvy House and lead weekly Sunday discussions.
CaPA Scholars: 8 to 10 incoming students a year receive $7,500 over four years and a professional mentor to develop their art.
DYER Fellowship: a four-year entrepreneurship and innovation program for 10 students a year, open to any major. You apply through the applicant portal after submitting your admission application, with two short videos and a statement of interest. Lafayette does not publish a dollar value.
EXCEL Scholars: paid research with faculty, often the path into senior honors work in a major.
Deadline Note: CaPA applications are due February 1. The DYER Fellowship deadline for the last cycle was February 5, so expect a similar early-February date. Both open on your applicant portal only after you submit the Common App.
Honors at Lafayette: FAQs
Does Lafayette have an honors college?
No. Small classes and direct faculty contact are the default for everyone. The closest equivalents are the Marquis Scholars community, McKelvy House, CaPA, the DYER Fellowship and senior honors work within your major.
Do these programs come with scholarships?
Marquis awards are full or half tuition, and CaPA provides $7,500 over four years. McKelvy and DYER are about community and opportunity; Lafayette does not publish a dollar amount for either.
Can a student be in more than one?
Yes. McKelvy’s current members include Marquis Fellows, Posse Scholars, CaPA Scholars, EXCEL Scholars and Dyer Fellows.
When do first-years need to act?
Marquis consideration is automatic. CaPA and DYER need their own applications on the portal by early February. McKelvy and EXCEL come later through faculty nomination.
Lafayette’s calling card is that it is two schools in one: a small liberal arts college where you write papers and argue in seminars, and a place where about one in five graduates earns an engineering degree. Most colleges this size make you choose. Lafayette does not, and it shows in what students actually major in.
Nationally Known Program: Engineering at a liberal arts college. Lafayette offers civil, chemical, electrical and computer, and mechanical engineering, plus Integrative Engineering, Engineering Studies, and a combined International Studies and Engineering path. U.S. News lists it among the best undergraduate engineering programs, and Washington Monthly has ranked Lafayette among the top colleges for women in chemical, mechanical and civil engineering. Mechanical engineering is the largest of the group.
Economics: the single largest major on campus, including a mathematical economics track. It is a common path into finance, consulting and policy work.
Neuroscience, Psychology and Biology: together a big share of graduates, and a natural fit for pre-health students who want lab research with faculty instead of graduate assistants.
Government and Law, International Affairs: strong options for students headed toward law school, public service or global careers.
Undergraduate research: the EXCEL program puts more than 160 students a year on paid faculty research projects, and Lafayette sends one of the larger student groups to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
The outcomes back it up: Lafayette retains about 90% of first-year students, and 88% graduate within six years. Families comparing Lafayette with bigger engineering schools should look closely at class size. The tradeoff is fewer niche majors, in exchange for professors who know your student by name.
🔗 Official Lafayette College Links
Use Lafayette’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules, costs and aid policies. When anything on this page and the college’s site disagree, go with the college.
Lafayette plays the money game differently than most schools on your list. If your family has financial need, it is one of the most generous colleges in the country: it meets 100% of demonstrated need, swaps loans for grants at incomes up to $200,000, and lets outside scholarships chip away at loans before they touch your grant. If your family has no need, the path to a discount runs through the Marquis and Cur Non awards, and those go to a selective slice of the class.
So the real question is which family you are. Run the Net Price Calculator first. If the number works, Early Decision can make sense. If you are counting on merit to make it affordable, take Lafayette at its word and apply Regular Decision so you can compare offers. Either way, file the CSS Profile and FAFSA with the application, not after, and have your student lean into what makes Lafayette special: engineering inside a liberal arts college, paid research with professors, and communities like CaPA, DYER and McKelvy that turn a small campus into a big opportunity.
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Leo Dimilo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site so other families can see the real numbers before they commit.
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