If you think your kid would flourish in a small liberal arts environment but they’re also a budding engineer, then you can’t go wrong with Lafayette College. But how exactly to get into Lafayette? We’re going to get into the nitty-gritty of that question, but first, let’s learn a little bit more about this school but mighty school in Easton, Pennsylvania. 

About Lafayette College 

Lafayette is a private, undergraduate-only college with only 2,700 students. This is great news for students who don’t want to have to compete with graduate students for faculty attention, and who want to be hands-on with Lafayette’s research output. About 90% of students live on campus all four years, and Easton is a small city, so the Lafayette community is tight-knit.  

This year, for the Lafayette Class of 2030, only 32.27% of applicants received admission. This makes it what we at Ivy Coach consider a competitive school to get into. So, without further ado, let’s see what separates the roughly ⅓ of applicants who gain admission to Lafayette from the rest. 

Lafayette College Admissions Requirements 

We want to make one thing clear first: there’s no copy-and-paste template for a successful application to Lafayette, which is true for all selective schools. It’ll come as no surprise to you that a high GPA, great test scores, and impressive extracurricular achievements are the pillars of any strong application. Let’s look at what these three features look like for Lafayette admits before getting into the details of the application process. 

What Kind of GPA Is Necessary To Get Into Lafayette?

The following is the GPA breakdown for the Lafayette Class of 2028 according to the 2024-2025 Common Data Set (the most recently available data we have):

Score Range	Percentage of Class of 2028 (Students Who Submitted Scores)
Percent who had GPA of 4.0	14.54%
Percent who had GPA between 3.75 and 3.99	25.55%
Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.74	26.43%
Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.49	16.30%
Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.24	12.33%
Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.99	4.85%
Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.49	0%
Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.99	0%
Percent who had GPA below 1.0	0%

Looking at these numbers, we at Ivy Coach feel confident in saying that students should certainly not apply to Lafayette with anything lower than a 2.50 GPA, and even then, less than 5% of the Class of 2028 who submitted their GPA landed in the 2.50-2.99 range.

Two out of three of the students who submitted their GPAs and then enrolled in the Class of 2028, which was 66.52% total, had GPAs of 3.50 or above. Again, for students who really want to strengthen their chances of acceptance into Lafayette, attaining that GPA at a minimum would be wise.

What Kind of SAT or ACT Scores Are Needed To Get Into Lafayette College?

The average SAT score for the Lafayette Class of 2028 was 1420, and the average ACT score was 31. That year, only 33% of students submitted their SAT scores. Even with that, we at Ivy Coach believe that it can only hurt your chances to omit your scores, even to supposedly test-optional schools. 

What Classes Do Students Need to Take to Get Into Lafayette College?

While Lafayette does not explicitly state any minimum high school course preparation for applicants, we at Ivy Coach know that colleges want to see students excelling in each core subject (English, history, math, science, and foreign language) all four years of high school. In fact, they expect to see five years for foreign language since most students begin their first level of foreign language in eighth grade.

What Kinds of Extracurriculars Does Lafayette Like To See?

You’ve probably heard the urban legend of the “well-rounded” student. In this contemporary folktale, the “well-rounded” student is the most sought-after applicant of highly selective colleges. We’re going to break it to you: this is purely just an urban legend, a myth, a mirage. 

What are schools looking for? Not a well-rounded student, but a well-rounded student body. These student bodies are comprised of uniquely talented students, each contributing some different achievement to the greater whole. 

So, rather than shuttling your kid from soccer practice to Russian Math lessons to cello lessons to West Side Story rehearsal to robotics club, maybe decide to save on all that gas money and encourage your child to zero in on their own unique talents. Maybe they’re a thespian: have them write a play, work with their school’s drama department to put it on, and then use the funds from ticket sales to support arts education in underfunded areas of the United States. Maybe they’re a Classist: have them found a Latin Club at their school, translate niche texts beyond The Aeneid and Caesar, and contribute original research to a scholarly journal on Roman Studies. You get the gist. 

Lafayette College Application Requirements 

Lafayette accepts the Common App. They ask for a letter of recommendation from a guidance counselor and at least one teacher, but they’ll accept additional letters. They ask the following supplemental question: 

• Students identify Lafayette as an excellent fit for countless reasons. In your response, be deliberate and specific about your motivation for applying to Lafayette. Why Lafayette? (20-200 words)

Who Should Students Ask For Letters of Recommendation For Lafayette College? 

Lafayette College applicants should ask two junior year teachers in core subjects. Obviously, the applicant should have a good relationship with the teacher or at least have performed well in their class. In addition, at least one of the recommender’s subject area should be related to the student’s hook: if a student’s singular hook is studying fruit fly DNA, it wouldn’t make sense if their recommenders were their History and English teachers. 

Does Lafayette Require an Interview?

They do not require one, but they offer them, and say that the interview can help “enhance” your interview. So, to put it bluntly: do the interview! 

What Are Lafayette College’s Application Deadlines? 

Early Decision I applications to Lafayette are due November 15. Regular Decision and Early Decision II applications are due January 15.  

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into Lafayette

If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into Lafayette College, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into Lafayette College, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.