Tuition and fees for 2024-25
Feb. 22, 2024
Dear Lafayette Parents and Families:
I write to share with you the tuition and fees for the 2024-25 academic year, as set by the Board of Trustees. We appreciate the significant investment you are making to afford your child the benefits of a Lafayette education and are steadfast in our commitment to wisely stewarding College resources to provide our students with a life-changing residential college experience.
The total cost of attendance for returning students for the 2024-25 academic year will be $83,652, which is a 4.4% increase over the current year. This total breaks down as follows:
In significant part, the new cost reflects the influence of inflation on College expenses. We know that such increases are never welcome. Our decision to increase the cost of attendance resulted from the extensive scrutiny of our faculty and administration committee (College Budget Planning Committee) and detailed review of College costs by the Board of Trustees.
We also want to share some of the continuing investments we are making in the quality and value of a Lafayette education. Our surveys of recent graduates continue to show that within six months of Commencement, 97% are employed, continuing their education, or doing meaningful work such as volunteering, interning, or preparing for graduate/professional school.
In the coming year, we will take fresh steps to keep the focus on excellence that influenced the College’s rising nine spaces this past year to 30th in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of best national liberal arts colleges. That focus has attracted more than 10,150 applicants for fall enrollment, the second highest in College history and a 3.6% increase over last year. These new investments include recruiting outstanding faculty to teach, mentor, guide, and inspire students and maintain the low student-faculty ratio (10:1) that is a vital part of Lafayette’s personalized learning experience.
We are also continuing to improve facilities to support students’ growth. This year, among numerous capital improvements designed to support the in- and out-of-class experience, we opened new learning spaces in the Acopian Engineering Center, added a new walking and biking trail, and made significant progress on the construction of the McCartney Street Housing project, which will add 166 new beds and amenities for students starting this fall. This fall we will also open the Simon Center for Economics & Business, featuring a host of new advanced learning and research spaces. We are grateful to the many donors who make our capital projects possible, in addition to the extraordinary support they provide for financial aid and scholarships.
Speaking of financial aid, as you know, we are committed to meeting 100% of every student’s calculated demonstrated financial need. If your recent financial circumstances have changed, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 610-330-5055 or financialaid@lafayette.edu.
In mid-July, the Student Accounts Office will provide remittance and payment plan information with tuition statements. Further information related to tuition statements and payment plans can be accessed on the Student Accounts website or by contacting the office at 610-330-5145 or studentaccounts@lafayette.edu.
We are grateful for every student who chooses Lafayette College for their education and will continue to do our best to provide an outstanding learning experience.
Sincerely,
Nicole Hurd
President