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Located in Easton, Pennsylvania on a beautiful campus overlooking the historic Delaware River, sits Lafayette College, a private liberal arts institution. Chartered in 1826 and named after the Marquis de Lafayette, the college was founded with a vision to “teach the habits and subjects of a disciplined mind, the skills to conduct careful research and come to considered conclusions, and the desire and ability to lead a purposeful life.” A coeducational, residential institution, Lafayette Colleges prides itself on having a selective enrollment that is small enough to give students the sense of belonging to a real community, yet being large enough to offer students a number of unique opportunities across the arts, sciences and engineering.
Academic Programs
Lafayette College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and has been so since 1921. The school’s mission is to “develop students’ skills of critical thinking, verbal communication, and quantitive reasoning and their capacity for creative endeavor”. Lafayette offers a unique combination of degree programs in both the liberal arts and engineering, awarding Bachelor of Art degrees in more than 35 fields and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than two dozen fields, including several in engineering.With more than 50 areas of study offered across four academic divisions – humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering, – Lafayette’s students also have the option of creating a self-designed major. All students take an absorbing first-year seminar which is designed to bring them into the academic life and traditions of Lafayette College. Students gain a broad base of knowledge through the College’s Common Course of Study and then develop expertise by specializing in a particular area of study.
Student Life
Lafayette University boasts a total enrollment of more than 2,500 students. Self described as a “diverse, welcoming and active educational community”, nearly all students live on campus and housing is guaranteed to students for all four years. Housing options include more than 20 traditional residence halls with singles, doubles, or suites; town homes; sorority and fraternity houses; and special living options for students who share a common interest. Eligible seniors have the additional option of applying to live independently in a college-owned house or other off-campus housing.Lafayette’s campus is home to over 200 student-led clubs and organizations, including a vibrant Greek life and more than 50 intramural sports and recreational activities. An NCAA Division I-AA school, Rivalry Week at Lafayette includes the highly anticipated game against Lehigh in one of the most-played and famous football rivalries in the nation. Tickets to the game sell out months in advance and activities leading up to the event often include a pep rally, class spirit competitions, concerts and a traditional Midnight Breakfast.