About

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is used by many colleges and universities to gauge student perceptions of their campus learning environment and student/faculty commitment to and involvement in undergraduate education.

Although not meant as a tool to compare and “rank” colleges, survey results can indicate the degree of academic challenge students perceive, the presence of an “active learning” approach to teaching, meaningful contact with teachers, opportunities outside the classroom setting to deepen learning, a supportive campus environment, and support for academic and personal development.

Of particular note, in the 2012 NSSE report, Lafayette students live up to their reputation of being involved, focused, and active:

By their senior year, 78% of Lafayette students have participated in some form of practicum, internship, field experience, co-op or clinical assignment, compared to 50% nationally
92% of seniors at least occasionally discuss their career plans with faculty, compared to 83% nationally
By their senior year, 53% of Lafayette students have studied abroad, substantially above the 15% nationally
By their student year, 79% have participated in community service or volunteer work, compared to 60% nationally

View the results from the NSSE

“Is College Worth the Cost?”

At Lafayette, the answer is a resounding yes. Payscale.com reports that Lafayette is third among all liberal arts schools in average starting salary (excluding military academies) and sixth in 30-year return on investment.