Choosing the right college is a significant decision that impacts students’ academic, professional, and personal growth. In this article, we compare two liberal arts institutions, Lafayette College and Skidmore College, to help you make an informed decision. We will discuss the schools’ overviews, costs and tuition, admissions, degrees offered, academics, diversity, students, campus, alumni, rankings, and outcomes.
Lafayette College Overview
Lafayette College is a private liberal arts college located in Easton, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1826, the college offers a wide range of courses across various disciplines, with a focus on interdisciplinary learning. With a student population of around 2,600, Lafayette College provides a close-knit community and small class sizes, enabling students to receive personalized attention from faculty.
Lafayette College Costs & Tuition
The estimated total cost of attendance at Lafayette College for the 2021-2022 academic year is around $74,000, including tuition, fees, room, and board. The college offers financial aid to eligible students, with an average financial aid package of approximately $50,000.
Lafayette College Admissions
Lafayette College has a competitive admissions process, with an acceptance rate of around 31%. The school requires applicants to submit their high school transcripts, standardized test scores (either SAT or ACT), letters of recommendation, and a personal essay.
Lafayette College Degrees Offered
Lafayette College offers more than 50 majors and minors across various disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. Popular majors at Lafayette include Economics, Psychology, Biology, and Engineering.
Lafayette College Academics
With a student-faculty ratio of 10:1, Lafayette College offers a personalized academic experience, allowing students to engage in meaningful discussions and build strong relationships with their professors. The college has a strong emphasis on research and experiential learning, providing numerous opportunities for internships and study abroad programs.
Lafayette College Diversity
Lafayette College has a diverse student body, with approximately 19% of students identifying as belonging to an underrepresented minority group. The college is committed to promoting inclusivity and understanding across campus.
Lafayette College Students
Lafayette College has a vibrant campus life, with over 250 student clubs and organizations catering to various interests. Athletics also play a significant role in the college experience, with the college offering 23 varsity sports teams competing at the NCAA Division I level.
Lafayette College Campus
Situated on a picturesque 340-acre campus, Lafayette College offers a serene environment for students to live and learn. The college has a mix of historic and modern facilities, including state-of-the-art research labs and athletic facilities.
Lafayette College Alumni
Lafayette College has a strong alumni network, with notable alumni in various fields, including business, politics, entertainment, and academia. Some prominent Lafayette alumni include former U.S. Representative Charlie Dent, Fortune 500 CEO Ellen Kullman, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist James McPherson.
Lafayette College Rankings
Lafayette College is consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. In the 2021 edition of the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings, Lafayette was ranked #39 among National Liberal Arts Colleges.
Lafayette College Outcomes
Lafayette College has a strong record of successful outcomes for its graduates. According to the college’s data, 95% of graduates from the Class of 2020 were employed, enrolled in graduate school, or participating in a service program within six months of graduation.
Skidmore College Overview
Skidmore College is a private liberal arts college located in the vibrant city of Saratoga Springs, New York. Founded in 1903, Skidmore offers a variety of academic programs in liberal arts and pre-professional studies. The college is home to approximately 2,500 students, fostering a close-knit community and promoting creativity and intellectual curiosity.
Skidmore College Costs & Tuition
The estimated total cost of attendance at Skidmore College for the 2021-2022 academic year is around $76,000, which includes tuition, fees, room, and board. The college provides financial aid to eligible students, with an average financial aid package of approximately $48,000.
Skidmore College Admissions
Skidmore College has a competitive admissions process, with an acceptance rate of around 27%. Applicants are required to submit their high school transcripts, standardized test scores (either SAT or ACT), letters of recommendation, and a personal essay.
Skidmore College Degrees Offered
Skidmore College offers more than 40 majors and minors across various disciplines, including arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and pre-professional programs. Popular majors at Skidmore include Business, Psychology, Visual and Performing Arts, and Biology.
Skidmore College Academics
With a student-faculty ratio of 8:1, Skidmore College provides a personalized academic experience, allowing students to engage in deep learning and critical thinking. The college emphasizes interdisciplinary study and experiential learning, offering numerous opportunities for internships, research, and study abroad programs.
Skidmore College Diversity
Skidmore College has a diverse student body, with approximately 22% of students identifying as belonging to an underrepresented minority group. The college is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive campus community.
Skidmore College Students
Skidmore College offers a vibrant campus life, with over 130 student clubs and organizations catering to various interests. Athletics are an integral part of the college experience, with 19 varsity sports teams competing at the NCAA Division III level.
Skidmore College Campus
Skidmore College’s 1,000-acre campus features a mix of historic and modern architecture, set within a beautiful natural landscape. The college’s facilities include state-of-the-art research labs, performance spaces, and athletic facilities.
Skidmore College Alumni
Skidmore College has a strong alumni network, with notable alumni in various fields, including business, arts, entertainment, and academia. Some prominent Skidmore alumni include artist David Levine, television producer Michael C. McCarthy, and author Meg Wolitzer.
Skidmore College Rankings
Skidmore College is consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. In the 2021 edition of the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings, Skidmore was ranked #36 among National Liberal Arts Colleges.
Skidmore College Outcomes
Skidmore College has a solid record of successful outcomes for its graduates. According to the college’s data, 93% of graduates from the Class of 2020 were employed, enrolled in graduate school, or participating in a service program within six months of graduation.
Lafayette College vs Skidmore College Cost Comparison
While both Lafayette College and Skidmore College have similar total costs of attendance, Lafayette offers slightly higher average financial aid packages than Skidmore ($50,000 vs $48,000). Students should also consider factors such as location, cost of living, and personal preferences when comparing the costs of attending these colleges.
Lafayette College vs Skidmore College Admissions Difficulty
Both Lafayette College and Skidmore College have competitive admissions processes, with acceptance rates of 31% and 27% respectively. Prospective students should carefully prepare their application materials and consider each college’s unique requirements and expectations.
Lafayette College vs Skidmore College Academic Difficulty
Both colleges provide personalized academic experiences with small student-faculty ratios. Students can expect rigorous coursework, experiential learning opportunities, and interdisciplinary studies at both institutions. However, Lafayette College emphasizes engineering programs, while Skidmore College focuses on liberal arts and pre-professional studies.
Lafayette College vs Skidmore College Outcome Comparison
Both Lafayette College and Skidmore College have strong records of successful outcomes for their graduates. Lafayette College has a slightly higher employment and graduate school enrollment rate within six months of graduation (95% vs 93%). However, both colleges have notable alumni networks and solid reputations in their respective fields.