Lafayette College Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on June 19, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~36%
  • Middle 50% ACT: 28-32
  • Middle 50% SAT: 640-720 ERW; 650-750 Math
  • Average GPA: 3.71
🧭 Quick Admissions Strategy (based on where your student falls)

  • Below the typical ranges: This is a high reach. Focus on standout extracurriculars, strong essays, and a clear academic direction—Lafayette values intellectual curiosity and fit.
  • In the typical ranges: You’re competitive, but not a lock. Essays, recommendations, and demonstrated interest can make the difference.
  • Well above the ranges: Admission odds improve, but merit scholarships are still highly selective—don’t assume strong stats = big money.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 Lafayette College at a Glance

🏆 Full tuition available (Lafayette Athletic Scholarship & Marquis Fellowship)
Average Net Price
TBD
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
$17,500–$31,500/yr
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
10 opportunities
4 automatic · 3 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: TBD
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Lafayette Athletic Scholarship & Marquis Fellowship
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA & CSS Profile
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Lafayette College (Read This First)

  • Merit scholarships are limited and competitive: Even top students may receive little or no merit aid.
  • CSS Profile required: Financial aid is heavily need-based, and families often underestimate their expected contribution.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes — Lafayette College is test-optional.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 28-32; SAT: 640-720 ERW; 650-750 Math.

Average net price? About TBD after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No — private school; same rate for all.

Sources:
Lafayette Admissions – Scholarships: https://admissions.lafayette.edu/scholarships/
Undergraduate research program page: https://academics.lafayette.edu/undergraduate-research/excel-scholars-program/
Lafayette Admissions – Grants: https://admissions.lafayette.edu/grants/
Scholar programs page: https://advising.lafayette.edu/scholar-programs/
External scholarships and fellowships office: https://externalscholarships.lafayette.edu/scholarships/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

💰 Cost of Attendance at Lafayette College 2026-2027

📅 2027–2028 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2026–2027). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2027–2028 numbers are released.

Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.

Category (2026–2027) In-State Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters) $66,496 $66,496
Housing & Meals (typical) $19,712 $19,712
Total (Direct Costs) $86,208 $86,208

Average Federal Net Price: — — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. 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.
📄 CSS Profile Required for Institutional Aid

Lafayette requires the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA to determine eligibility for institutional need-based grants.

  • FAFSA: Required for federal aid
  • CSS Profile: Required for Lafayette-funded grants
  • Merit scholarships: Awarded automatically with admission

👉 New to the CSS Profile? Read our step-by-step CSS Profile Guide →

⚠️ Lafayette “Gotcha” (Divorced/Separated Families): Noncustodial CSS Profile

If parents are divorced, separated, or never married, Lafayette may require a separate CSS Profile from the noncustodial parent. This is one of the most common reasons families lose access to Lafayette-funded grants — even when the student clearly qualifies.

  • FAFSA = federal aid (loans, Pell eligibility, etc.)
  • CSS Profile = Lafayette institutional grants (the money that actually reduces the bill)
  • Noncustodial CSS Profile may be required in addition to the student/custodial CSS Profile

Parent strategy: if this applies to your family, start early and use Lafayette’s financial aid deadlines page so you don’t miss the noncustodial step.

See Lafayette’s FAFSA/CSS deadlines (includes noncustodial CSS) →

FAQ — Cost of Attendance at Lafayette College

Why is tuition the same for in-state and out-of-state students?
Lafayette is a private college and does not receive state tuition subsidies, so all students are charged the same tuition and required fees.

What’s included in “Tuition & Mandatory Fees”?
Tuition plus the required student activity fee and the one-time matriculation fee for first-year students.

Is $87,318 what families actually pay?
That figure represents billed costs before aid. Many families pay less after merit scholarships and need-based grants are applied.

Does Lafayette offer tuition reciprocity or regional waivers?
No. Lafayette does not participate in WUE, ACM, MSEP, or other residency-based tuition discount programs.

Sources:
https://admissions.lafayette.edu/college-costs/
https://admissions.lafayette.edu/federal-cost-of-attendance/
https://oir.lafayette.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/196/2025/11/CDS2025-2026.pdf
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?213385

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships at Lafayette College

Lafayette awards its primary merit scholarships automatically as part of the admissions review. There is no separate scholarship application for these awards, and all admitted students are considered.

🧮 Superscore Friendly
Lafayette superscores both the ACT and SAT for admission and scholarship consideration. If your student submits scores, Lafayette considers the highest section scores across all test dates.
Automatic
Cur Non Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early Decision I: November 15; Early Decision II: January 15; Regular Decision: January 15  ·  📢 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
Cur Non stacks with Lafayette's need-based grant, which is great news for families layering merit on top of need. The one guardrail: your combined institutional aid can't exceed your demonstrated need or the total cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Merit-based tuition scholarship within Lafayette's Marquis & Cur Non program. Awards run from $17,500 to $31,500 per year and are renewable at the same annual amount for up to eight full-time semesters as long as you maintain satisfactory academic progress.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong, intellectually curious admits with real school and community engagement who land just below the Marquis Fellowship and Scholarship tiers — think top of a rigorous course load with genuine leadership and empathy in the file.
Automatic
Lafayette College Grant
📅 Deadline: Early Decision I financial aid forms: November 1; Early Decision II financial aid forms: January 5; Regular Decision financial aid forms: January 5  ·  📢 Results: Your grant amount will appear in your College Financing Plan alongside your admission decision, once Lafayette has reviewed your aid application.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
The Lafayette College Grant layers with merit scholarships like Marquis and Cur Non, plus federal and outside awards. Total institutional aid is calibrated to your demonstrated need and cannot push you above the full cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Need-based institutional grant funded directly by Lafayette College. Amounts are determined annually from your financial aid application and capped at eight full-time semesters, provided you stay in satisfactory academic standing and continue to demonstrate need.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted students whose family financial picture — as calculated from the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and supporting documents — shows a genuine gap between what they can pay and what Lafayette costs.
Full TuitionAutomatic
Marquis Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Early Decision I: November 15; Early Decision II: January 15; Regular Decision: January 15  ·  📢 Results: Marquis Fellowship offers are named in your acceptance letter and Lafayette portal on the day your admission decision is released.
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
⚠  A small group of top applicants receive Marquis Fellowships that cover full Lafayette tuition for eight semesters
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
A full-tuition Marquis Fellowship can layer with the need-based Lafayette College Grant, but combined institutional resources are capped at your demonstrated need and cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Full-tuition merit scholarship in the Marquis & Cur Non program. The award is tied to Lafayette's set tuition figure and grows each year alongside tuition increases. Renewable for up to eight full-time semesters with a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
A very small group of Lafayette's top admits — students at the top of the class in the most demanding curriculum available, with standout grades, strong scores if submitted, and clear leadership or community impact.
Automatic
Marquis Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early Decision I: November 15; Early Decision II: January 15; Regular Decision: January 15  ·  📢 Results: Marquis Scholarship offers are announced in your acceptance letter and Lafayette portal on the day your admission decision is released.
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
The half-tuition Marquis award stacks with Lafayette's need-based grant, so families layering merit and need aid can benefit from both. Combined institutional aid is capped at demonstrated need and the total cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Half-tuition merit scholarship in the Marquis & Cur Non program. The award is tied to Lafayette's set tuition figure and grows each year with tuition. Renewable for up to eight full-time semesters with a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: High-achieving admits sitting just below the Marquis Fellowship tier — strong grades in a rigorous curriculum, solid test scores if you submit them, and meaningful school or community involvement.
* 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.

*GPA/test ranges are estimates based on past recipients and published student profiles; actual thresholds can change by year.

📌 Renewal “Gotcha” (Read This Before You Count the Money for 4 Years)
Lafayette states that Marquis awards require a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA to maintain. If a student falls below that line, the merit award can be reduced or lost.

Good news: losing merit does not automatically mean “zero help.” Students may still be considered for need-based financial aid if they remain eligible under Lafayette’s standards.
How selective are Lafayette’s merit awards?
Each entering class typically includes about 10 Marquis Fellows (full tuition) and around 50 Marquis Scholars (half tuition), with a larger group of students receiving Cur Non or Lafayette Awards as part of their admission and aid package.

FAQ — Automatic Merit at Lafayette College

Do I need to apply separately for merit scholarships?
No. Lafayette considers all admitted students automatically for Marquis, Cur Non, and Lafayette Awards using the admissions application.

When should students apply to maximize scholarship consideration?
Lafayette considers all first-year applicants who apply by the January 15 Regular Decision deadline for Marquis and other institutional merit awards. While there is no separate scholarship deadline, submitting application materials earlier in the cycle is recommended so files are complete and reviewed promptly.

When are merit decisions released?
Merit scholarships are typically included with the admission decision for Early Decision and Regular Decision applicants.

Can test-optional students receive merit scholarships?
Yes. Submitting test scores is optional. If scores are submitted, Lafayette superscores them; if not, GPA, rigor, and the full application carry more weight.

Do these scholarships stack with need-based aid?
Yes. Lafayette confirms that students whose demonstrated need exceeds their merit award may receive additional institutional aid up to demonstrated need.

Are Marquis Fellowships competitive?
Yes. While initial consideration is automatic, some Marquis candidates are invited to a finalist selection process, making these awards highly competitive.

Sources:
https://admissions.lafayette.edu/scholarships/
https://lafayette.smartcatalogiq.com/en/current/catalog/admissions-and-costs/academic-scholarships
https://advising.lafayette.edu/scholar-programs/
https://oir.lafayette.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/196/2025/11/CDS2025-2026.pdf

🏆 Flagship (Competitive) Scholarships at Lafayette College

Lafayette’s top merit awards begin with automatic consideration, but the most prestigious levels include a competitive finalist process for a small number of students. These awards are limited, high-value, and represent the college’s flagship merit recognition.

Full RideApp Required
Lafayette Athletic Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early Decision I financial aid forms: November 1; Early Decision II financial aid forms: January 5; Regular Decision financial aid forms: January 5  ·  📢 Results: You'll hear from Athletics and Financial Aid alongside your admission and aid packages — timing tracks with the recruiting cycle for your sport.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
tuition_room_board_fees_books
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Athletic scholarships follow NCAA and Patriot League rules, so how they combine with need-based aid is tightly regulated. Your total institutional package can't exceed the full cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Get on a Lafayette varsity coach's radar in one of the ten scholarship sports, go through the recruiting and admissions process, file the FAFSA on the aid timeline, and sign a grant-in-aid agreement if the athletic offer is extended.
💡
Strategic Detail
Athletic scholarship program covering tuition, fees, standard room (rate 1), board, and books for full-ride recipients, with partial athletic awards also offered. Recipients follow NCAA rules and keep their award by remaining on the team and maintaining academic progress.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Recruited student-athletes in the ten scholarship sports who meet Lafayette's academic bar, click with the coaching staff, and sign a formal grant-in-aid.
Full TuitionApp Requiredpipelineidentity_based
Posse Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early Decision I application and financial aid forms are due on Lafayette's Early Decision I deadlines; Posse's own nomination and DAP timeline runs earlier in the fall.  ·  📢 Results: Posse Scholars are named by the Posse Foundation and Lafayette in the fall of senior year, before their formal admission decision.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
⚠  Students nominated and selected through Posse NYC or D.C. receive a leadership‑based scholarship that pays full Lafayette tuition for four years
👥 ~Ten Scholars per cohort from each partner Posse city (New York City and Washington, D.C.). winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Posse Scholars follow the same rules as other institutional grant recipients — additional need-based Lafayette aid can be layered on top up to demonstrated need and the full cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
You need to be nominated for Posse through your high school or a community organization in New York City or Washington, D.C., then move through Posse's multi-round Dynamic Assessment Process. Selected Scholars apply to Lafayette Early Decision I and file the FAFSA on the ED I timeline.
🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Full-tuition scholarship awarded to cohorts of ten Posse Scholars per partner city (NYC and D.C.). Scholars commit to Lafayette through Early Decision I, must file the FAFSA, and are supported by a Posse mentor and cohort throughout the four years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High school seniors nominated through Posse's New York City and D.C. programs who make it through the Dynamic Assessment Process — students with strong academics plus real leadership presence and team chemistry.
App Required
Tuition Exchange Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early Decision I financial aid forms: November 1; Early Decision II financial aid forms: January 5; Regular Decision financial aid forms: January 5  ·  📢 Results: Lafayette expects Tuition Exchange decisions to be released no later than April 1.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
TE is treated as an employer education benefit and is folded into your demonstrated need calculation — Lafayette's institutional grant may be adjusted so total aid stays within need and cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Ask the Tuition Exchange (TE) liaison officer at your parent or guardian's employing institution to certify your eligibility, then apply to Lafayette by the standard admission deadlines and file the CSS Profile and FAFSA on Lafayette's aid timeline.
💡
Strategic Detail
Lafayette participates in the Tuition Exchange scholarship program for dependents of employees at TE member colleges and universities. Selection is highly competitive and made by the Office of Admissions; awards are generally limited to entering first-year students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-year applicants who are dependents of employees at TE member institutions and are selected through Lafayette's competitive TE review — this pool is small and highly competitive every cycle.
* 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.

*GPA/test ranges are estimates based on past recipients and published student profiles; actual thresholds can change by year.

Flagship Marquis awards are drawn from the regular admission pool; no separate scholarship application is required, though some finalists may be invited to campus for additional evaluation later in the cycle.

FAQ — Flagship Scholarships at Lafayette College

ED vs RD (Parent Strategy)
Early Decision can help a student show strong commitment — but it’s also binding. If your family needs to compare multiple financial aid offers side-by-side, Regular Decision can be the safer plan.

Are these scholarships automatic or competitive?
Initial consideration is automatic with admission, but the most prestigious Marquis awards include a competitive, invite-only finalist process for a limited number of students.

Is there a separate application or essay?
No separate scholarship application is required. Finalists may be asked to participate in interviews, campus programs, or additional evaluation steps.

Do Early Decision applicants qualify?
Yes. Lafayette considers both Early Decision and Regular Decision applicants for Marquis Fellowships and Scholarships.

Can a Marquis award be combined with need-based aid?
Yes. Lafayette confirms that students whose demonstrated financial need exceeds their Marquis award may receive additional institutional aid up to demonstrated need.

If I’m not selected as a Fellow, can I still receive merit aid?
Yes. Students not selected for a Marquis Fellowship may still receive a Marquis Scholarship, Cur Non Scholarship, or Lafayette College Award.

Sources:
https://admissions.lafayette.edu/scholarships/
https://lafayette.smartcatalogiq.com/en/current/catalog/admissions-and-costs/academic-scholarships
https://advising.lafayette.edu/scholar-programs/

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

🧩 How “Stacking” Usually Works at Private Colleges Like Lafayette

Lafayette merit and Lafayette grants are typically packaged to build an overall aid offer — not to create unlimited “extra money.” If your student wins an outside scholarship, the financial aid office often adjusts the package so the total aid does not exceed the Cost of Attendance.

  • First: outside scholarships often reduce loans/work-study (“self-help”) first
  • Next: if the package still exceeds allowed totals, institutional grant amounts may be adjusted
  • Bottom line: outside scholarships still help — just don’t assume they always reduce the bill dollar-for-dollar

Parent move: ask Financial Aid, “If my student brings a $5,000 outside scholarship, what changes first — loans, work-study, or Lafayette grant?”

Lafayette’s “hidden gems” don’t look like long lists of small named tuition awards. Instead, most additional funding comes from a combination of need-based institutional grants, selective scholar programs, and externally funded fellowships that are supported and endorsed by the college.

Important to know: At Lafayette, many students receive additional institutional grant aid beyond their merit award if their demonstrated financial need is higher than the value of their Marquis or Lafayette Award. These grants are packaged automatically through the financial aid process rather than listed as standalone scholarships.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Paid Research / Internship Funding (EXCEL + Intern Scholar Programs)
📅 Deadline: Varies by specific EXCEL or internship funding cycle
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~Dependent on annual program budget and available projects winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stipends are paid in addition to financial aid and can help offset living or internship costs without reducing institutional scholarship amounts.
📄
How to Apply
Secure a faculty-mentored research or approved internship opportunity and apply through the relevant EXCEL or internship funding program according to its posted process.
Selection criteria: Selection considers academic performance, faculty sponsorship, and the educational value of the research or internship project.
💡
Strategic Detail
EXCEL Scholars typically earn an hourly stipend and may receive free housing in some terms; specific amounts and structures vary by project and term.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students selected to conduct faculty-mentored research or funded internships who want to offset summer or term-time living and opportunity costs.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
McKelvy Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Typically during sophomore year; dates set annually by the program
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Program benefits such as housing and enrichment stack with existing merit and need-based financial aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply during sophomore year or later via the McKelvy Scholars Program process, which includes an application and selection based on intellectual curiosity, leadership, and community engagement.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes intellectual curiosity, leadership, and engagement in a scholarly residential community.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Primarily an enrichment and housing-based scholars program rather than a direct tuition scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Sophomore through senior students seeking a residential, discussion-based scholarly community and selected for intellectual engagement and leadership.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Nationally Competitive Fellowships (Goldwater, Truman, Udall, etc.)
📅 Deadline: Junior–senior year timelines that vary by specific fellowship program
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Determined by each external fellowship organization winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
External fellowship funding typically coordinates with institutional aid, with outside awards potentially reducing loans, work, or institutional grants according to aid policies.
📄
How to Apply
Work with Lafayette’s fellowships advising office to pursue campus nomination and submit required materials for national awards such as Goldwater, Truman, and Udall according to each program’s rules.
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
Includes a range of national fellowships supported by Lafayette; award amounts, durations, and rules vary widely by program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-achieving students with strong research, public service, or graduate study plans who secure Lafayette endorsement and succeed in national competitions.
* 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.

FAQ — Hidden Gem Scholarships at Lafayette

Why doesn’t Lafayette list lots of small named scholarships?
Lafayette primarily distributes additional funding through institutional grants and comprehensive aid packages rather than dozens of small donor-named awards.

Do hidden gem scholarships stack with Marquis awards?
Often yes. Students with demonstrated financial need may receive institutional grant aid layered on top of their merit award.

Is FAFSA and CSS Profile required?
Yes. Lafayette uses both FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility for institutional need-based grants.

Are these scholarships available to first-year students?
Some are (like Posse or institutional grants), while others apply later through enrichment programs or national fellowships.

Does Lafayette have department-specific tuition scholarships?
Not in a clearly published way. Most departmental support is academic or enrichment-based rather than direct tuition awards.

Sources:
https://admissions.lafayette.edu/scholarships/
https://lafayette.smartcatalogiq.com/en/current/catalog/admissions-and-costs/academic-scholarships
https://advising.lafayette.edu/scholar-programs/
https://externalscholarships.lafayette.edu/scholarships/

🎖 Honors Program & Honors-Based Scholarships

Lafayette College does not operate a separate undergraduate Honors College. Instead, its most academically strong students are recognized through campuswide scholar programs—most notably the Marquis Fellows and Marquis Scholars— which combine significant merit aid with academic enrichment.

Important: At Lafayette, there are no scholarships reserved exclusively for an Honors College. Academic recognition, enrichment, and top merit funding are integrated through the Marquis and Lafayette awards rather than a separate honors track.

This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.

*While no separate scholarship application is required initially, some Marquis candidates are invited to participate in an additional finalist selection process.

FAQ — Honors & Academic Recognition at Lafayette

Does Lafayette have an Honors College?
No. Lafayette does not operate a separate Honors College. Academic recognition and enrichment are integrated through scholar programs and merit awards.

Do Honors students receive extra scholarship money?
There are no scholarships reserved exclusively for “Honors” students. The largest merit awards (Marquis Fellowship and Scholarship) are campuswide.

Is the Marquis Fellowship the same as Honors?
Not formally, but it functions similarly. Marquis Fellows receive significant academic enrichment, close faculty interaction, and cohort-style programming.

Can students without a Marquis award still access enrichment programs?
Yes. Many campus scholar and enrichment programs are open through application or nomination after enrollment.

Does Honors participation affect financial aid?
No direct impact. Financial aid is determined through merit awards, institutional grants, and demonstrated need—not Honors status.

Sources:
https://lafayette.smartcatalogiq.com/en/current/catalog/admissions-and-costs/academic-scholarships
https://admissions.lafayette.edu/scholarships/
https://advising.lafayette.edu/scholar-programs/

⭐ College Specialty

Lafayette College is a highly selective liberal arts college with a rare, nationally respected engineering program—a combination that attracts students who want deep academic rigor, close faculty mentorship, and strong career outcomes. Families often discover Lafayette because it offers the feel of a small liberal arts college while delivering research access, professional pipelines, and outcomes more commonly associated with larger universities.

Nationally Recognized Strength:
Engineering (Undergraduate-Focused) — Lafayette is widely known for its undergraduate engineering programs, where students have direct access to faculty, hands-on design work, and funded research opportunities. Unlike many engineering schools, undergraduates are not competing with graduate students for labs, mentorship, or project leadership.
  • Engineering & Applied Sciences: Civil, mechanical, chemical, electrical, and computer engineering programs are consistently recognized for outcomes, with graduates placing into top firms, startups, and competitive graduate programs.
  • International Affairs & Global Studies: One of Lafayette’s most distinctive interdisciplinary strengths, combining politics, economics, history, and language study with strong study-abroad participation.
  • Economics & Government: Well-known for quantitative rigor and policy focus, with strong placement into consulting, finance, law, and public policy roles.
  • Undergraduate Research: Lafayette emphasizes faculty-mentored research across disciplines, with many students completing funded summer research or senior thesis projects.

✨ Wrapping It Up

Lafayette College is a highly selective private liberal arts college where the sticker price can look intimidating at first glance, but institutional aid often changes the picture dramatically. Most students who receive merit funding are considered automatically through the admissions process, with Lafayette layering substantial need-based grants on top for families who complete financial aid forms.

Because Lafayette charges one tuition rate for all students, affordability depends less on residency and more on academic strength, timing, and financial need. Understanding how automatic merit, flagship Marquis awards, and institutional grants work together is the key to estimating what your family might actually pay.

If Lafayette is on your shortlist, the smartest move isn’t guessing — it’s comparing Lafayette side by side with similar private colleges to see where your student’s profile unlocks the strongest combination of merit and need-based aid.

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