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Programs & majors brief

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# Lafayette College Majors & Programs

Updated September 30, 2026

[Overview](/school/lafayette-college/)[Cost & aid](/school/lafayette-college/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/lafayette-college/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/lafayette-college/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/lafayette-college/similar/)

**On this page**+

## Which majors earn the most at Lafayette College?

The highest-earning programs at Lafayette College are concentrated in engineering, but the largest programs by degrees awarded are in the social sciences. Chemical Engineering graduates earn a median of $115,726 four years after completion, from 31 degrees awarded.

[Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #6 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. Economics is the largest single program, with 140 degrees awarded and median earnings of $112,864.

Azimuth ranks it #31 nationally. Psychology awards 66 degrees and posts more moderate earnings of $73,435, though Azimuth ranks it #11 nationally.

Mechanical Engineering graduates earn $101,348, with 63 degrees awarded, and Azimuth ranks it #32 nationally. The contrast between the highest-earning engineering fields and the larger social science programs shows how earnings vary by field of study.

### Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

-   Social sciences**287 · 34.1%**
-   Engineering**168 · 20.0%**
-   Biological sciences**102 · 12.1%**
-   Psychology**66 · 7.8%**
-   Visual and performing arts**49 · 5.8%**
-   Other**169 · 20.1%**

Find a field

Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name

29 of 29 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs

**Chemical Engineering 31 degrees awarded**
$115,726

**Economics 140 degrees awarded**
$112,864

**Engineering, General 24 degrees awarded**
$104,222

**Mechanical Engineering 63 degrees awarded**
$101,348

**Political Science and Government 84 degrees awarded**
$87,904

**Biology, General 48 degrees awarded**
$82,109

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs

Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks

| Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Chemical Engineering | 31 | $115,726 | #6 |
| Economics | 140 | $112,864 | #31 |
| Engineering, General | 24 | $104,222 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 63 | $101,348 | #32 |
| Political Science and Government | 84 | $87,904 | #16 |
| Biology, General | 48 | $82,109 | #12 |
| Psychology, General | 66 | $73,435 | #11 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 32 | $53,050 | #87 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research small degree count | 13 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Area Studies small degree count | 14 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 20 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Civil Engineering | 33 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 46 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Mathematics | 20 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Philosophy small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Physics small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 37 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 26 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Music small degree count | 5 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| History small degree count | 18 | Too few graduates to report | — |

[Program data and definitions](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## What are the largest programs at Lafayette College?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded

**Economics**
140

**Political Science and Government**
84

**Psychology, General**
66

**Mechanical Engineering**
63

**Biology, General**
48

**Neurobiology and Neurosciences**
46

**International Relations and National Security Studies**
37

**Civil Engineering**
33

**English Language and Literature, General**
32

**Chemical Engineering**
31

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. [Program data and definitions](#page-sources)

## How do Lafayette College majors rank nationally?

### National program rankings

1.  Chemical Engineering**#6**
2.  Psychology, General**#11**
3.  Biology, General**#12**
4.  Political Science and Government**#16**
5.  Economics**#31**
6.  Mechanical Engineering**#32**
7.  English Language and Literature, General Included by program size**#87**

Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.

[How Azimuth compares programs across colleges](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## Further analysis

What a graduate earns four years after completion depends on the program at Lafayette College. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) programs by what federally aided completers earn, by median debt, and by cohort size, not by reputation.

8 programs report earnings data, and Azimuth assigns a national rank to 7. Social Sciences accounts for 34.1% of bachelor's degrees awarded.

Engineering makes up 20.0%, and Biological Sciences contributes 12.1%. Economics, the largest program with 140 degrees awarded, ranks #31 within its field and yields median earnings of $112,864 four years after completion.

Award counts reflect degrees conferred in one academic year, and program earnings cover federally aided completers. Chemical Engineering ranks #6 within its field, with median earnings of $115,726 four years after completion from just 31 degrees awarded.

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).