Lafayette College

Many students are motivated by the active education opportunities at Lafayette College: “It’s never a lecture alone, you always get to apply the learning you gained.” Across many majors at this “small, prestigious liberal arts school,” time is well-spent on “hands-on learning through field trips to relevant and interesting locations,” such as a geology class using lab time to travel to state parks around the area and explore the natural geography and a “Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies class following the Inside-Out Program model of having class inside the local women’s prison.” Even when students don’t leave the classroom, their work is described as “interpretive and creative.” They also note that even “classes that are lecture-heavy will offer collaborative projects” and that labs are “attended by professors (and not graduate students or TAs).” Lafayette Leopards also celebrate the school’s strong study abroad program, including about ten interim trips a year, “which are three-week trips to locations all over the world.” The overall educational focus is fostered by the professors, who are “personable and intelligent” and “super accessible and accommodating.” In addition, “there are resources for every class in addition to the professors, such as TAs, writing assistants, tutors, and supplemental instructors.” Lafayette may be a “challenging academic institution,” but it’s one that impresses with its engagement and support: professors “all have good intentions and want to help.”

Lafayette students are typically “involved in many campus activities, clubs, and commitments” and “generally respectful and look out for each other, which establishes a sense of community and belonging on campus.” While the student body seems to get along, there is some consternation with the administration, with one student sharing that “the student body and the administration are consistently at odds over decisions made with very little student input and which act against our own interests.” The vibe among the student community is strong and positive, though, with one student describing Lafayette students as, “nerds who enjoy having fun,” and “genuinely fun people to be around” who “also value interesting conversations about the college, academics, and the world around us.”

“Students value the work hard, play hard mindset at Lafayette,” noting that while they “study rigorously for assignments and exams,” there are also those who “enjoy partying even on weekdays.” This also results in college-led events being well attended, whether that’s “food trucks on the quad” or “fun events” with the Lafayette Activities Forum, which run the gamut from “trivia nights to festivals on the quad.” Reviews are mixed on the importance and popularity of Greek life, with one student saying, “Greek Life and athletics dominate the social scene” while another insists that whether the school “is leaning away from it” or making it “more pronounced, it just depends on the people you surround yourself with.” Off campus is a draw, too, as downtown Easton boasts “dozens of consignment shops and small businesses that offer student discounts” and has a “vibrant food scene” that’s “a gem for nightlife, restaurants, and walking around.” Either way, “there is an opportunity to socialize in any shape or form if students get involved on campus.”

The Gateway Career Center is proud to extend its panoply of services to students at every stage of their time at Lafayette, offering individualized support and guidance in planning out each student’s career road map. Career counseling services begin during a student’s first year and “are readily available to any student who wants to utilize them,” says one student. Students are encouraged to join GatewayLink, the Lafayette-specific online portal that connects students with a network of alumni mentors and fellow students who share the same interests. And sophomores, juniors, and seniors can learn more about specific careers with the January Externship Program, where they shadow a professional for two to five days. One student praises the school’s “strong career services program that provides excellent opportunities and...works closely with alumni to provide career exposure opportunities even to first-year students.” The median starting salary for a Lafayette graduate is $80,100, according to PayScale.com.