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Engineering at Lafayette College

Easton, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Engineering, General
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $76,507/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Medium (27,900 openings/yr)
ROI 2.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #45 of 47 Engineering, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $756K $734K $649K
Earnings Multiple 3.0x 2.9x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 69% 63% 47%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 46 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$250,296
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$129,984
48% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$92,618
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $76,507 per year, Engineering graduates from Lafayette College earn slightly above the $69,222 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

An earnings multiple of 2.9x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #45 out of 47 programs, Lafayette College's financial outcomes for Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Lafayette College

A 31% acceptance rate puts Lafayette College in competitive admissions territory, with a smaller student body of 2,746 in Easton, PA. The average net cost of $129,984 over four years represents a 48% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Lafayette College →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 47 schools offering Engineering →

Engineering at Other Schools

Franklin W Olin College of Engineering ($109,455) Harvey Mudd College ($92,491) Brown University ($86,416) University of California-Davis ($82,956) Wentworth Institute of Technology ($78,211) McNeese State University ($75,566) Michigan State University ($75,058) University of Southern Indiana ($74,976)

Other Majors at Lafayette College

Chemical Engineering ($79,602) Mechanical Engineering ($72,481) Civil Engineering ($70,391) Economics ($68,164) International Relations and National Security Studies ($58,433) Political Science and Government ($48,112) Sociology and Anthropology ($43,321) Biology, General ($41,885)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Lafayette College's Engineering program score?
This program scores 46/100 — on the lower end for Engineering. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →