United States
Lafayette College
Funding
Lafayette is NEED-AWARE for international first-year applicants, with very competitive international need-based grants. Lafayette guarantees to meet 100% of its calculated demonstrated need for admitted students, but not necessarily all costs including summer and interim housing or personal expenses. Lafayette can offer institutional loans to international students; expected family contribution is individualized and a free full ride is not guaranteed.
Eligibility
Selectivity context: Selective. Bangladesh first-year applicants may use Common App or Coalition Scoir; SAT/ACT test-optional for fall 2027 and fall 2028. English test TOEFL/IELTS/DET typically required (DET 130 or IELTS 7.0 expected), with a waiver possible after three years' English-medium instruction. For international need-based aid, CSS Profile required; students whose family can contribute LESS THAN USD 20,000 annually and face CSS fee hardship may request Lafayette's OWN alternative International Financial Aid Form via admissions@lafayette.edu after applying. Lafayette explicitly DOES NOT accept standard ISFAA; no IDOC submission for international applicants. Merit-only applicants do not need CSS.
Deadlines
Fall 2027 admission: ED I November 15, 2026; ED II and RD January 15, 2027. International CSS or approved Lafayette alternative aid deadlines align: ED I November 15; ED II/RD January 15. Optional RD-to-ED-II conversion may be requested by February 1; follow applicant portal. Official English test and aid requirements differ from US applicants (no FAFSA for Bangladesh).
What Lafayette College needs for Fall 2027
Draft research from official pages (checked 14 Nov 2026). Not yet verified by a bdesh editor — confirm every date and prompt on the official page. 7 details still being checked.
Rounds and deadlines
| Round | Application | Financial aid | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision Ibinding | not confirmed | not confirmed | mid-December |
| Early Decision IIbinding | not confirmed | not confirmed | mid-February |
| Regular Decision | not confirmed | not confirmed | late March |
Essays and short answers
Optional200 words
Why do you see yourself at Lafayette?
Testing
- SAT/ACT optional
- English tests: TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test (IELTS 7.0 · TOEFL 100 · DET 130)
- Native English speakers or students with three recent years of English-language academic instruction may request an attestation/waiver form from admissions@lafayette.edu. Minimums are 'typical' not hard.
Recommendations · Interview
- counselor + 1 teacher
- Interview: Optional
- Application fee: $65 · Apply through Common App, Coalition by Scoir
Financial aid for international students
- Need-aware for international applicants
- ✓ Meets full demonstrated need
- Forms: CSS Profile
- Documents: CSS Profile (or alternative International Financial Aid Form if eligible); Noncustodial parent CSS Profile if applicable
The international page says IDOC is not used by international applicants, but the general deadlines/apply pages list FAFSA, CSS Profile and IDOC for need-based aid (apparently for U.S. applicants). Lafayette is need-aware and guarantees to meet 100% of demonstrated need of admitted students; need-based aid is reviewed annually, not guaranteed for four years, and no aid is offered later to international students who do not qualify in their first year. Merit aid requires no separate application.
Official pages used
- admissions.lafayette.edu/apply/international-students/
- admissions.lafayette.edu/deadlines-and-forms/
- admissions.lafayette.edu/apply/
- www.commonapp.org/explore/lafayette-college
- admissions.lafayette.edu/apply/international-students/international-student-faq/
- admissions.lafayette.edu/financial-aid-deadlines/