College Costs - Admissions · Admissions · Lafayette College When it comes to the value of a college degree, Lafayette gets high marks across the board. Reports in The Wall Street Journal Bloomberg Businessweek , and Payscale.com have ranked Lafayette as one of the top schools in the nation in highest return on investment for liberal arts graduates. Our costs to educate a student are actually higher than what we charge for tuition. Much of the difference is covered by our endowment. Our endowment-per-student ratio is in the top 8 percent of all colleges and universities in the country, which means you will get close working relationships with faculty and staff and first-class facilities and equipment. Our liberal arts education not only prepares you to apply knowledge to local and global challenges in your career, it also sets you on a path to a greater quality of life. College Costs: 2026-2027 Billed Expenses Tuition $70,486 Matriculation fee (1) $750 Student Activity fee (2) $360 Housing Expenses (room rate 1) (3) $12,968 Food Expenses (20 meals/week) (4) $7,928 TOTAL $92,492 (1) This is a one-time fee charged to first year students in their first semester. (2) The Student Activity Fee will be applied and reflected on the Fall & Spring statements, and the payment will be collected from these statements. The Student Activity Fee is transferred to and administered by the Lafayette College Student Government. These funds are used to support recognized student clubs and organizations, intramural sports, and Student Government–sponsored activities and events. (3) Additional fees may apply based upon housing selection (4) First year students are required to have a 20-meal per week plan Other Fees Application Fee $65 Auditing a Course $575 Music Fee (MUS140, MUS141) $600 Advanced Music Fee (MUS142) $765 Parking Registration $500 Winter Interim, Summer I, Summer II, Part time Studies (per course) $2,700 Studio Arts & Lab Science Courses $160 Summer or Interim Internships $275 Non-Billed Expenses Books/course materials/supplies/equipment $1,000 Transportation* $250 Miscellaneous/personal $940 *Allowance varies based on the student’s state of residence Eligibility for federal financial aid is determined using the federal cost of attendance formula. Our staff is happy to help you explore how to plan and pay for your college education. Our college cost estimator will help you calculate your eligibility for financial aid and estimate your out-of-pocket expenses. Our Pulse Our People