BU vs. Hofstra

Deciding between Boston University and Hofstra University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boston University
Hofstra University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Hofstra Hempstead, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Hofstra Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Hofstra 10,685
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Hofstra Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Hofstra #194
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Hofstra -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Hofstra Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Hofstra

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Hofstra $57,660
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Hofstra $57,660
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Hofstra $18,082
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Hofstra $35,792
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Hofstra $35,061
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Hofstra 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Hofstra 25,021
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Hofstra 17,035
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Hofstra 68.1%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Hofstra 10.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Hofstra 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Hofstra 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Hofstra 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Hofstra A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Hofstra Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Hofstra Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Hofstra 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Hofstra 1230/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Hofstra Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Hofstra

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Hofstra 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Hofstra
    • Business (30%)
    • Communication (16%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Hofstra 58%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Hofstra $59,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Hofstra 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Hofstra $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Hofstra $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Hofstra 40%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Hofstra 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Hofstra High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Hofstra No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Hofstra 57%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Hofstra 9%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Hofstra 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Hofstra 14%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Hofstra 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Hofstra 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Hofstra 2%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Hofstra 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Hofstra 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Hofstra 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Hofstra 34%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BU Yes
  • Hofstra Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BU No
  • Hofstra No
  • Meal Plan
  • BU Yes
  • Hofstra Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BU Yes
  • Hofstra Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • BU No
  • Hofstra Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Hofstra based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 10,685 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Hofstra University is in Hempstead, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hofstra University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Hofstra University 13:1.

BU vs. Hofstra Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Hofstra? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than Hofstra ($24,420 vs. $35,792).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hofstra University are 4.9% lower than at Boston University ($18,082 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 18.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hofstra (about $10,442 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $57,660.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.1% higher at BU than at Hofstra University (about $10,442 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $57,660.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hofstra University than at Boston University (99% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 76.4% larger than aid received by Hofstra University students ($61,848 vs. $35,061).

BU vs. Hofstra Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or Hofstra? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Hofstra and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 160 points higher than at Hofstra (1320).
  • Incoming BU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Hofstra).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Hofstra University 1230/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Hofstra University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Hofstra - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Hofstra (3.74).
  • Hofstra has a higher acceptance rate (68.1%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 10.3% at Hofstra.

BU vs. Hofstra Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Hofstra? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Boston University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Hofstra University's (58%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than Hofstra graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $59,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hofstra University graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($23,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Hofstra graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($242 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hofstra students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.