Lafayette College is a private liberal arts college in Easton, Pennsylvania, that uniquely offers ABET-accredited engineering programs alongside a traditional liberal arts curriculum. With fewer than 2,700 students, Lafayette provides an intimate academic experience with an average class size under 20. The college's location in the Lehigh Valley offers proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia.
Mascot: Leopard
Notable Alumni
Joe Maddon (World Series-winning manager)•Philip Hench (Nobel Prize-winning physician)•William E. Simon (U.S. Secretary of the Treasury)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Campus Experience
Lafayette's social life orbits around Greek organizations and athletics more than most schools its size — about 30% of students go Greek, and the Rivalry with Lehigh is a genuine cultural touchstone. Engineering students face notably heavier workloads than their liberal arts peers, and the school has been building LLC alternatives to dilute Greek dominance.
Hilltop campus in Easton with pleasant stone and brick buildings and nice views of the Lehigh Valley. Attractive and well-kept but compact, without the dramatic natural setting or architectural grandeur of top-tier campuses.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
Moderate on-campus crime with most incidents being disciplinary or minor. Public Safety provides evening escorts and electronically secured residence halls.
Easton is a small city with variable crime by neighborhood. Lafayette sits on a hilltop above downtown, and the immediate campus area sees very few incidents.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Monday-Friday and select Saturdays year-round
Duration: 90 minutes total (15-min admissions counselor intro + 75-min student-led tour)
Walk-ins accepted and assigned to the next tour. Open Houses in spring and fall. Academically focused Open Houses for Engineering, Arts, and Natural Sciences held in fall.
Book a TourSelf-guided tours available anytime. An audio driving tour is also offered. Scan the QR code at the kiosk outside Markle Hall to check in and access tour content.
Tour ResourcesSpring (April-May) and fall (September-October) are ideal -- the hilltop campus overlooking the Delaware River and Lehigh Valley is gorgeous in mild weather. Visit during Rivalry Week before the Lafayette-Lehigh football game for peak energy. Avoid winter break and mid-summer.
Visitor parking in the Markle Parking Deck (730 High Street in GPS). Park on the 3rd floor in designated visitor spots. Campus is at the junction of I-78 and Route 33. Nearest airports: Lehigh Valley International (ABE, 20 min) or Newark (EWR, 75 min). LANTA bus serves Easton but a car is recommended.
Location
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