Lafayette increases no-loan threshold to $200,000

Lafayette College announced that it is taking another step to improve access to its education for low-income and middle-class families.

Starting with new applicants in the 2024-25 academic year, families with total family incomes of up to $200,000 and typical assets for families in this income group will have their financial need met through grants and work study, without any loans. This is an increase over the $150,000 income threshold initiated for the incoming classes of fall 2022 and fall 2023.

“With this increase, we want to open our doors even wider to all talented students who know that Lafayette is the right fit for their growth and success,” said Lafayette President Nicole Hurd. “Instead of worrying about loans and debt, they will be able to dedicate their attention to the learning and preparation that make a Lafayette education so meaningful.”

Lafayette’s decision is part of its commitment to making college more accessible and inclusive for students. In August, Lafayette announced that it will consider up to six activities rather than the 10 available through the application form on the Common App, which high school students around the world use to apply to college.

Together, the two new changes will “make our community even stronger and more accessible for outstanding students regardless of financial background,” added Hurd, who founded and led the largest college-access program in the country, the College Advising Corps, for 15 years before becoming Lafayette’s 18th president in 2021.

“These two decisions create considerable new opportunities for recruiting and enrolling students across the income spectrum,” said Forrest Stuart, Vice President of Enrollment Management. “They are exciting and important steps forward for the College and the outstanding students we bring together here.”