Organizer Information
Lafayette College is a private liberal arts college in Easton, Pennsylvania, offering undergraduate programs across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. Its arts and humanities offerings include Art, Film and Media Studies, Music, Theater, and related interdisciplinary study. Lafayette also provides international admissions and financial-aid support for students applying from outside the United States.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Lafayette College
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered: A.B. (Bachelor of Arts), B.S. (Bachelor of Science)
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts, Film & Media, Art History, Theater, Music, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering
- Relevant Programs: Art (A.B.); Film and Media Studies (A.B.); Theater (A.B.); Music (A.B.); Architectural Studies minor; other interdisciplinary programs
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Fall 2027 admission cycle
- Application Deadline: 15 November 2026 (Early Decision I); 15 January 2027 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision)
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027
- Application Fee: $65 USD
- Tuition: $70,486 USD for 2026–2027
- Funding: Need-based financial aid and merit scholarships available; Lafayette states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted international students.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Lafayette's Department of Art offers an A.B. combining art history and studio art, with students able to emphasize either area. Studio offerings include areas such as drawing, sculpture, painting, printmaking, and related contemporary practices.
- Film and Media Studies offers an A.B. integrating critical study with creative production. Applicants interested in the major may optionally submit film/media work for faculty review.
- Students may also pursue A.B. degrees in Theater and Music, while Architectural Studies is offered as a minor rather than a standalone degree. Lafayette permits interdisciplinary study and self-designed majors across its curriculum.
General Eligibility
- Lafayette welcomes international first-year applicants. Applicants who have completed high school and subsequently enrolled in a degree-seeking post-secondary program are considered transfer applicants rather than first-year applicants.
- Admission review considers secondary-school academic performance, course rigor, extracurricular and community involvement, employment or personal responsibilities, and other aspects of the applicant's background. Admissions interviews are considered as part of the application process, but international applicants are not required to complete an interview.
Educational Background
- First-year applicants must submit an official secondary-school transcript and school report. Transfer applicants must have graduated from high school and enrolled in a degree-seeking post-secondary program.
- International applicants with qualifications such as GCE A-levels, the French Baccalaureate, or German Abitur may receive advanced standing credit based on individual review.
Language Requirements
- International students must demonstrate English-language proficiency through an accepted test such as TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo.
- Lafayette typically looks for:
- TOEFL: 100 (new TOEFL scale: 5)
- IELTS: 7.0
- Duolingo English Test: 130
- The requirement may be waived for applicants whose first language is English or who have received academic instruction in English for the previous three years, subject to Lafayette's waiver process.
Application Fee
| Applicant Type | Application Fee | Waiver |
|---|---|---|
| First-year applicants | $65 USD | Available when the fee presents a financial hardship |
| International first-year applicants | $65 USD | Available through the Common Application fee-waiver process |
Tuition
| Study Level | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, 2026–2027 | $70,486 USD | Academic year | $750 matriculation fee; $360 student activity fee |
Lafayette's published 2026–2027 cost information also lists housing and meals separately. The federal cost-of-attendance calculation lists $13,474 for housing and $8,320 for meals for first-year/entering students.
Funding & Financial Support
- Lafayette offers merit scholarships to international students without requiring a separate merit-scholarship application. International students seeking need-based aid must submit the CSS Profile; Lafayette states that it meets the full demonstrated financial need of admitted international students, although admission is need-aware and financial aid is awarded competitively.
- International students may also receive institutional student loans as part of a need-based financial-aid package.
University Services & Academic Support
- Lafayette provides academic advising, tutoring, peer mentoring, writing support, accessibility services, and support for international and multilingual students. International students also have access to an International Student Advising Team and the English for Academic Purpose Center.
- Undergraduate students can participate in faculty-guided research, independent studies, honors theses, and the EXCEL Scholars program. Art students also have access to facilities including the Williams Visual Arts Building and Experimental Printmaking Institute.
Application Requirements
- Common Application
- $65 USD application fee, or an applicable fee waiver
- Letters of recommendation from a guidance counselor and at least one teacher
- Official secondary-school transcript and school report
- Mid-year or first-trimester grades when available
- English-language proficiency test for international applicants, unless an approved waiver applies
- CSS Profile for international applicants seeking need-based financial aid
SAT and ACT scores are optional for students applying for fall 2027 and fall 2028.
Arts portfolio: Optional. Applicants may submit supplemental arts materials after submitting the Common Application. For Film and Media Studies, the optional submission may include a statement of purpose and up to two original film/media or writing samples. Studio-art applicants may submit up to 10 images.
Interview: Not required for international applicants; virtual interviews are encouraged.
How to Apply?
- Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Early Decision I: 15 November 2026
- Financial Aid Deadline — Early Decision I: 15 November 2026
- Early Decision II: 15 January 2027
- Regular Decision: 15 January 2027
- Financial Aid Deadline — Early Decision II: 15 January 2027
- Financial Aid Deadline — Regular Decision: 15 January 2027
- Convert Regular Decision to Early Decision II: 1 February 2027
- Early Decision I Admission Results: Mid-December 2026
- Early Decision II Admission Results: Mid-February 2027
- Regular Decision Admission Results: Late March 2027
- Early Decision I Enrollment Deposit: 5 January 2027
- Early Decision II Enrollment Deposit: 1 March 2027
- Regular Decision Enrollment Deposit: 1 May 2027
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027
Location
Lafayette College — Easton, Pennsylvania, United States
Additional Details
- Lafayette's currently published tuition figure is for the 2026–2027 academic year, while the admissions information reviewed here concerns students planning to enroll in fall 2027. Applicants should therefore verify the 2027–2028 cost figures when Lafayette publishes them.
- For international applicants, financial need can be considered during admission because Lafayette uses a need-aware process. Meeting demonstrated need does not necessarily mean that every expense, including summer or interim costs, will be covered.