Head-to-head comparison
Lafayette College vs Immaculata University: which has better ROI?
Option A Easton, PA
Lafayette College
- Net price / year
- $34,433
- Earnings, 10 years
- $91,410
- Payback
- 3.2 yrs
Option B Immaculata, PA
Immaculata University
- Net price / year
- $24,258
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,701
- Payback
- 3.5 yrs
Lafayette College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $137,732 in 3.2 years versus 3.5 years at Immaculata University, on median earnings of $91,410 vs $75,701 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lafayette College | Immaculata University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,433 | $24,258 |
| Total net cost | $137,732 | $97,032 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $91,410 | $75,701 |
| Median debt | $16,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 3.2 yrs | 3.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $723,268 | $449,788 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lafayette College or Immaculata University?
Immaculata University, at $24,258 a year after aid versus $34,433 — a gap of $10,175 a year, or $40,700 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Lafayette College or Immaculata University graduates earn more?
Lafayette College graduates report a median $91,410 ten years after entry, $15,709 more than the $75,701 at Immaculata University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Lafayette College or Immaculata University?
Lafayette College: its completers carry a median $16,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Immaculata University, a difference of $11,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
88% of students finish at Lafayette College, against 71% at Immaculata University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.