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Hofstra University

Private nonprofit Hempstead, NY · Suburban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A Earnings A- Social Mobility A- Diversity
Graduation Rate
68% B-
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$69,039 A
Top 8% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$34,176 F
99% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
68% B-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +69% vs avg
Graduation +19% vs avg
Net Price 99% vs avg
Mobility Top 11%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.7 over 20 years.

14.7× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $14.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,879,158.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduates earn 69% more than the national college median.

  3. Social mobility rate of 2.99% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $14.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
0.2%
Top 73%
Patents
7
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
51
Downstream influence

Why Hofstra University Matters

Hofstra University is a private doctoral / professional university in Hempstead, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 8% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Doctoral / Professional University
Carnegie Class
Doctoral/Professional
Enrollment
6,488
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Communications, Visual & Performing Arts

Why students choose Hofstra University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 8% of colleges
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 37% overall
A
Earnings
$69,039 median
C-
Value
2.0× net price
F
Affordability
$34,176/yr net
B-
Graduation
68% graduate
A-
Social Mobility
3.0% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Selectivity
68% admit rate
A-
Diversity
0.73 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Hofstra University is a good fit for students who thrive in a vibrant, diverse environment and are looking for strong programs in Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Communications, Visual & Performing Arts, and Psychology. With an enrollment of 6,488 students and a 68% acceptance rate, it attracts a mix of learners eager to engage in both academic and extracurricular pursuits. The graduation rate also stands at 68%, indicating that students here are completing their degrees at a steady pace, which is an essential factor in today’s job market.

After graduation, Hofstra alumni see an average earnings of $69,039 within ten years, which is a promising figure that speaks to the potential return on investment for students. While we don’t have specific mobility rates, the emphasis on programs like Business and Health Professions suggests that many graduates enter fields with solid opportunities for advancement. This is especially relevant when considering the cost of attendance, as the financial layout can significantly impact post-college life.

Speaking of finances, the net price for attending Hofstra after financial aid is about $34,176, with a median debt load of $23,621. This means students are typically able to manage their financial commitments without being overwhelmed. Those who tend to thrive here are often proactive, engaged, and looking for a supportive community that offers both academic rigor and personal growth opportunities.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Hofstra University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Hofstra University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Hempstead, New York, Hofstra University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,319. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.

Acceptance Rate
68%
Retention Rate
84%
SAT Average
1319
ACT Midpoint
29
SAT Range
1230–1400
ACT Range
28–32
Full-Time Faculty
40%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$14,951
Student–Faculty Ratio
13:1
Diversity Index
0.73
First-Gen Students
24%
Applicants
23,577
Admitted
16,346

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hofstra University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Hofstra University is $57,660, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $34,176. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $28,219 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,621 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$57,660
Out-of-State
$57,660
Avg Net Price
$34,176
Median Debt
$23,621
Pell Grant Rate
25%
Federal Loan Rate
44%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$28,219
Family Income $30K–$48K
$31,387
Family Income $48K–$75K
$33,450
Family Income $110K+
$37,348

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Hofstra University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Hofstra University earn a median of $69,039, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$52,131
8 Years
$64,563
10 Years
$69,039
Debt-to-Earnings
0.34x
Earning > $25K
71%

Earnings Trajectory

$52,131 6yr $64,563 8yr $69,039 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (932)
55%
100% (932)
55%
100% (932)
55%
100% (932)
55%

How Hofstra Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation68%Earnings 10yr$69KNet Price$34KRetention84%Median Debt$24KPell Grant Rate25%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$28K$0-30K$31K$30-48K$33K$48-75K$37K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%7.0%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%42.4%MOBILITY2.99%

College ROI Calculator

Is Hofstra University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Hofstra University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $34,176/year ($136,704 total). Graduates earn $69,039 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,015,862 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,879,158 (14.7× your investment). The median debt is $23,621, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$136,704
Projected 20yr Earnings
$2,015,862
Net Return
$1,879,158
ROI Multiple
14.7×
Cost Per Year
$34,176
Median Debt
$23,621
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
68%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Hofstra University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Hofstra University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.99%, among the highest in the country. About 7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 42.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $105,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
2.99%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
42.4%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
7.0%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$105,300

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Hofstra University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Hofstra University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.84
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.00
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.7%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Hofstra University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 7 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
0.22%
Top 73% nationally
Patents Produced
7
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
51
Downstream influence
Inventors From Low-Income
0.17%
Bottom-20% families

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-125,670,555

Top Programs

The fields Hofstra University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Hofstra University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Hempstead, New York, Hofstra University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,319. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hofstra University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Hofstra University is $57,660, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $34,176. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $28,219 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,621 in federal student loans.

Is Hofstra University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Hofstra University earn a median of $69,039, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Hofstra University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Hofstra University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.99%, among the highest in the country. About 7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 42.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $105,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Hofstra University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Hofstra University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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