Lafayette College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Lafayette College charges a net price of $34,433/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $137,732. Graduates earn a median $91,410 ten years after entry, $43,050/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.2 years — a 20-year net return of $723,268, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Lafayette College's 3.2-year payback ranks #200 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 84% of them, and #8 of 169 in Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $34,433/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $137,732 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $91,410 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $43,050/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $16,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $723,268 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Lafayette College's own numbers. Net price $34,433 × 4 years = $137,732 total. Median earnings $91,410 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $43,050 a year of premium. $137,732 ÷ $43,050 = 3.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $723,268. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Lafayette College students graduate with?
A median $16,000 in federal loans among completers, or 18% of the $91,410 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Lafayette College students graduate?
88% finish their degree. Spread the $137,732 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $156,514 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Lafayette College expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Its $34,433 net price runs $12,692 above the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, or $50,768 more across the full degree.