Easton, Pennsylvania — USA
Lafayette College
Meets 100% of calculated need for all admitted undergraduates — international freshmen AND transfers — covering tuition, room and board, books, and supplies. But it's need-aware for every international applicant, so requesting a full ride lowers your acceptance chances.
Last updated July 2026. Always confirm details on the school's official page before applying.
Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania provides full need-based financial aid — up to 100% of demonstrated need — to international students, and it's one of the rare small liberal arts colleges that also offers engineering degrees. Lafayette meets 100% of calculated need for all admitted undergraduates, and packages can cover tuition, room and board, books, and supplies. Both international freshmen and transfer students are eligible for full need-based aid. There's one important catch: admissions is need-aware for all international applicants, meaning the committee sees how much aid you're requesting when deciding whether to accept you — so requesting a full ride actively lowers your acceptance chances, and the rest of your application must be strong. Lafayette also has a distinctive, low-cost aid path: if your family's calculated contribution will be under $20,000/year and the CSS Profile fee is a genuine hardship, you can request Lafayette's free Institutional International Financial Aid Form instead.
At a glance
- SAT Required
- No — Lafayette is test-optional and does not require the SAT or ACT. Note: a test score does not replace the English proficiency requirement for non-native speakers.
- English Proficiency Required
- Yes — required for applicants whose first language is not English. Minimums: TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7.0, or Duolingo 130. Waived only if English is your first language or you've had academic instruction exclusively in English for the past 3 consecutive years.
- Apply With CSS Profile
- Yes — the CSS Profile is required for need-based aid, unless you qualify for Lafayette's free Institutional International Financial Aid Form.
- CSS Fee Waiver
- No standard CSS fee waiver codes, and no paper ISFAA — but there's a threshold-based free alternative.
- CSS Waiver Type
- If your family's calculated contribution will be less than $20,000/year AND the CSS Profile fee is a significant hardship, email admissions@lafayette.edu after submitting your Common Application to request Lafayette's free Institutional International Financial Aid Form. If your family can pay more than $20,000, you must submit the official (paid) CSS Profile. Lafayette does not accept a paper ISFAA.
- Acceptance Rate (Freshman)
- ~29–32% overall — lower for international applicants requesting near-total funding
- Application Fee (Freshman)
- $65 — a fee waiver is available through the Common Application for applicants facing financial hardship.
- Transfer Students
- Yes — international transfers get full need-based aid AND are evaluated for merit scholarships (a plus for transfers). But the transfer funding pool is tightly restricted and highly competitive.
- Acceptance Rate (Transfer)
- ~21%
- Application Fee (Transfer)
- $65 — hardship fee waivers are available through the application portal.
What “full scholarship” means here
This school guarantees it will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need. In simple English: if you get accepted and you've applied for financial aid and you don't have any money to attend, they can give you a full scholarship to cover your cost of attendance. Both conditions matter — and the CSS Profile is how you prove your need.
Lafayette Need-Based Financial Aid (100% of calculated need)
Need-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- Up to 100% of your calculated financial need
- Packages can cover tuition, room and board, books, and supplies
- Available to international freshmen and transfer students alike
Who qualifies
All admitted undergraduates who apply for financial aid, including international freshmen and transfers. Lafayette meets 100% of calculated need for admitted students. Admissions is need-aware for all international applicants, however — the committee sees how much aid you request, so asking for a full ride lowers your acceptance chances and the rest of your application must be strong. Transfer applicants are additionally evaluated for merit scholarships, but the transfer funding pool is tightly restricted and highly competitive.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply through the Common Application ($65 fee — a waiver is available via the Common App for financial hardship) and complete Lafayette's supplemental essay.
- 2Submit your official high school transcripts, plus the School Report and counselor recommendation.
- 3Provide one teacher letter of recommendation.
- 4Submit English proficiency scores if your first language is not English (TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7.0, or Duolingo 130) — waived only if English is your first language or you've studied exclusively in English for the past 3 consecutive years.
- 5Complete the CSS Profile for need-based aid. If your family's calculated contribution will be under $20,000/year and the CSS fee is a significant hardship, email admissions@lafayette.edu after submitting your Common App to request Lafayette's free Institutional International Financial Aid Form instead. Families who can pay more than $20,000 must submit the official CSS Profile.
Good to know
- Lafayette is one of the few liberal arts colleges that offers engineering degrees alongside a traditional liberal arts curriculum — a rare combination at a school of its size.
- Because Lafayette is need-aware for all international applicants, requesting a full ride actively lowers your acceptance chances. Ask for the aid you genuinely need and make the rest of your application as strong as possible.
- The $20,000 threshold is the key to a free aid application: if your family's calculated contribution will be under $20,000/year and the CSS fee is a hardship, email admissions@lafayette.edu after submitting your Common App to request Lafayette's free Institutional International Financial Aid Form. Above $20,000, you must pay for and submit the official CSS Profile — there is no paper ISFAA.
- Transfers get a bonus other schools don't offer: in addition to full need-based aid, international transfer applicants are evaluated for merit scholarships. But transfer funding is tightly restricted and highly competitive. Transfer applicants need the Common Application for Transfer, all college transcripts, a final high school transcript or GED, a Transfer College Report, one academic recommendation from a college professor or instructor, English proficiency scores if applicable, and the CSS Profile (Fall deadline May 1 / Spring deadline November 1).
Frequently asked questions
Does Lafayette College give full scholarships to international students?
Yes. Lafayette meets 100% of calculated financial need for all admitted undergraduates, including international freshmen and transfer students. Packages can cover tuition, room and board, books, and supplies. Admissions is need-aware for all international applicants, though, so requesting a full ride lowers your acceptance chances and the rest of your application must be strong.
Is Lafayette College need-blind for international students?
No — Lafayette is need-aware for all international applicants. The admissions committee sees how much financial aid you're requesting when deciding whether to accept you, so asking for a full ride actively lowers your acceptance chances. Once you're admitted, Lafayette meets 100% of your calculated need.
Does Lafayette College require the SAT for international students?
No. Lafayette is test-optional and does not require the SAT or ACT. Keep in mind that a test score does not waive the English proficiency requirement for applicants whose first language is not English.
Does Lafayette College require an English proficiency exam for international students?
Yes, if your first language is not English. Lafayette requires TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7.0, or Duolingo 130 (minimums). The requirement is waived only if English is your first language or you've had academic instruction exclusively in English for the past 3 consecutive years.
Do I have to pay for the CSS Profile at Lafayette?
Not always. The CSS Profile is required for need-based aid, but Lafayette offers a threshold-based free alternative: if your family's calculated contribution will be less than $20,000/year and the CSS fee is a significant hardship, email admissions@lafayette.edu after submitting your Common Application to request Lafayette's free Institutional International Financial Aid Form. If your family can pay more than $20,000, you must submit the official (paid) CSS Profile. Lafayette does not accept a paper ISFAA.
What is Lafayette College's acceptance rate?
Roughly 29–32% overall for freshman admissions, though it runs lower for international applicants requesting near-total funding. Transfer admission is around 21%.
Does Lafayette College accept international transfer students with full funding?
Yes. International transfer students are eligible for full need-based aid and are additionally evaluated for merit scholarships — a plus few schools offer transfers. The transfer funding pool is tightly restricted and highly competitive, however. Transfer acceptance runs around 21%, the fee is $65 (hardship waivers via the portal), and the CSS Profile is due May 1 for Fall entry or November 1 for Spring entry.
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