Lafayette College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CHARTERED IN 1826, LAFAYETTE COLLEGE IS DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION. STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN A TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT BRIDGES THE LIBERAL ARTS, ENGINEERING, AND INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY. THE COLLEGE FOSTERS (CONTINUED IN SCH O) INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY, ARTISTIC EXPLORATION, SCHOLARSHIP, AND PERSONAL GROWTH IN A VIBRANT, DIVERSE, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. LAFAYETTE STUDENTS BECOME CRITICAL THINKERS, CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVERS, AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS OF THE WORLD.
- Income
- $335.2 million
- Spending
- $292.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 66%
- Employees
- 2,602
- Volunteers
- 3,961
- Highest pay
- $1.1 million, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2533 of 34 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $214.6 million spent. LAFAYETTE COLLEGE IS A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE OFFERING BACHELOR OF ARTS ENGINEERING, NATURAL SCIENCES, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. IN FALL 2024, THE 2,750 STUDENTS CAME FROM 44 STATES AND 47 COUNTRIES. THE STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO AT THE COLLEGE IS APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 1. OF THE 259 FULL-TIME FACULTY, 252 HOLD A DOCTORATE OR OTHER TERMINAL DEGREE. APPROXIMATELY 63% OF THE STUDENTS ATTENDING LAFAYETTE COLLEGE RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. 718 STUDENTS WERE AWARDED AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE. LAFAYETTE COLLEGE HAS A FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE OF 77% AND SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE OF 85%. APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE COLLEGE'S GRADUATES WERE EMPLOYED, IN GRADUATE SCHOOL, OR SECURED INTERNSHIPS WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER GRADUATION.
- $40.3 million spent. AS A RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE, LAFAYETTE STUDENTS COMPLEMENT THEIR ACADEMIC. SCHOLARSHIP WITH A MYRIAD OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND LEARN FROM THE LARGE WORLD REPRESENTED ON THE COLLEGE'S CAMPUS. AS PART OF THEIR EXPERIENCE AT A RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE, LAFAYETTE STUDENTS ARE DEEPLY ENGAGED ACADEMICALLY AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES TOENGAGE IN A VAST OFFERING OF EXTRACURRICULAR AND CO-CURRICULAR POSSIBILITIES. LAFAYETTE COLLEGE OFFERS MORE THAN 150 STUDENT CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS, 23 NCAA DIVISION 1 ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, AND NUMEROUS EXPERIENCES IN THE FINE ARTS AND PERFORMING ARTS ALL OF WHICH ARE COMPLEMENTED BY A STRONG STUDENT LIFE PROGRAM THAT ENHANCES THE LAFAYETTE EXPERIENCE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1942.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.