Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York · Private Nonprofit · 68.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 65/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Hofstra University (Hempstead, NY) scores 65 (Fair Value) against $57,660 sticker tuition and a $34,176 net price. Accounting ($68,256 year-one) and Mechanical Engineering ($65,641 year-one) are the top-performing programs; Drama, Music, and Fine Arts show F-grade ROI with year-one earnings below $21,000. The broad program mix includes strong technical outliers and poor-performing performing arts programs that anchor the aggregate.
Hofstra University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $57,660/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $57,660/yr |
| Average net price | $34,176/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $136,704 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $69,039 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,621 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $250 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,488 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $57,660/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $34,176/year, or roughly $136,704 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $28,219/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $37,348/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,621, which works out to about $250 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,800) and comes to 0.55, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $28,219 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $31,387 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $33,450 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $36,769 |
| $110,001+ | $37,348 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $28,219 per year - about $113,000 over four years. Against $42,800 average earnings, low-income students in lower-earning programs face an acute financial burden.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $33,450 and the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $36,769 per year - both near or above the institutional average net price. Middle-income families effectively pay close to sticker at Hofstra. Professional program graduates (accounting, engineering) can justify this.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $37,348 per year - about $149,000 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Hofstra University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $60,448 | D |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $56,990 | D |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $88,238 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $89,518 | C+ |
| Marketing | $68,530 | C+ |
| Public Health | $58,610 | C |
| Biology | $65,057 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $73,584 | C |
| Accounting | $92,530 | B |
| Journalism | $61,609 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Accounting
Accounting (50 graduates) earns $68,256 at year one and $92,530 at year four with a B grade and 0.366 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-one earnings are $68,256.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (25 graduates) earns $65,641 at year one and $94,744 at year four with a B+ grade and 0.343 debt-to-earnings ratio. Small cohort size limits data reliability, but engineering wages in the New York metro area support these figures. Year-four earnings approaching $95,000 reflect career progression into senior engineering roles.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (61 graduates) earns $55,143 at year one and $89,518 at year four with a C+ grade and 0.451 debt-to-earnings ratio. The four-year jump from $55k to $90k reflects Wall Street-adjacent career ladders that Hofstra's Long Island location enables.
Computer Science
Computer Science (46 graduates) earns $41,177 at year one but climbs to $88,137 at year four with a C grade and 0.631 debt-to-earnings ratio. The four-year trajectory to $88,000 is strong.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama (37 graduates) earns $15,474 at year one and $44,388 at year four with an F ROI grade and 1.68 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-one median earnings are $15,474, indicating graduates are not finding stable theatrical employment immediately. Debt of $26,000 compares with $15,474 in earnings. Students pursuing theater at Hofstra's net price should have a realistic plan for the period between graduation and sustainable income.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 75.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Hofstra University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 68.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 610-700 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 620-700 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 28-32 |
| Enrollment | 6,488 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,951 |
ACT 28-32 composite places admitted students above the national median.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Hofstra's 65 score accurately reflects a school with strong professional program pockets and weak outcomes in several high-volume arts and humanities fields.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hofstra University (this school) | 65 | $34,176 | $69,039 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Sacred Heart University | 66 | $46,174 | $75,059 |
| Chapman University | 64 | $46,555 | $70,070 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | 61 | $16,898 | $59,986 |
Who Thrives Here
Hofstra admits 68.1% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 610-700 Math and 620-700 Reading, ACT 28-32 composite. At 6,488 undergraduates with a 25.3% Pell grant rate, the school draws heavily from Long Island, New York City, and the tri-state area. Students in accounting, mechanical engineering, finance, and CS will find programs with B+ to C ROI grades despite Hofstra's high sticker price. Students in performing arts, media arts, and drama face F-grade outcomes against a $34,000+ net price - a financially damaging combination.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Hofstra University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $34,176 a year after aid ($136,704 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $69,039 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 68.5% graduation rate.
Median debt of $23,621 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Hofstra University: Common Questions
Is Hofstra University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Hofstra University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 65/100 on our ROI scale. At $34,176 a year after aid ($136,704 over four years) against $69,039 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Hofstra University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $34,176 a year, or roughly $136,704 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Hofstra University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $69,039 ten years after enrolling, roughly $27,239 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Hofstra University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.1 years for Hofstra University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Hofstra University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,621, against average earnings of $42,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Hofstra University?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.5%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.