Cornell vs. Hofstra

Deciding between Cornell 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.

Cornell University
Hofstra University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Hofstra Hempstead, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Hofstra Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Hofstra 10,685
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Hofstra Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Hofstra #194
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Hofstra -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Hofstra Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Hofstra

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Hofstra $57,660
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Hofstra $57,660
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Hofstra $18,082
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Hofstra $35,792
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Hofstra $35,061
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Hofstra 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Hofstra 25,021
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Hofstra 17,035
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Hofstra 68.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Hofstra 10.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Hofstra 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Hofstra 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Hofstra 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Hofstra A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Hofstra Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Hofstra Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Hofstra 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Hofstra 1230/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Hofstra Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Hofstra

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Hofstra 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Hofstra
    • Business (30%)
    • Communication (16%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Hofstra 58%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Hofstra $59,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Hofstra 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Hofstra $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Hofstra $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Hofstra 40%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Hofstra 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Hofstra High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Hofstra No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Hofstra 57%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Hofstra 9%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Hofstra 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Hofstra 14%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Hofstra 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Hofstra 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Hofstra 2%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Hofstra 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Hofstra 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Hofstra 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Hofstra 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Hofstra based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 10,685 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); Hofstra University is in Hempstead, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hofstra University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; Hofstra University 13:1.

Cornell vs. Hofstra Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell 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 Cornell University than Hofstra ($26,361 vs. $35,792).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hofstra University are 6.9% lower than at Cornell University ($18,082 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 20.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hofstra (about $11,654 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $57,660.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.2% higher at Cornell than at Hofstra University (about $11,654 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $57,660.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hofstra University than at Cornell University (99% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 76.2% larger than aid received by Hofstra University students ($61,779 vs. $35,061).

Cornell vs. Hofstra Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell 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 Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 220 points higher than at Hofstra (1320).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Hofstra).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Hofstra University 1230/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Hofstra University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Hofstra - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Hofstra (3.74).
  • Hofstra has a higher acceptance rate (68.1%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 10.3% at Hofstra.

Cornell vs. Hofstra Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell 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).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Hofstra University's (58%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $39,200 more per year than Hofstra graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $59,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $11,500 lower median loan debt than Hofstra graduates ($12,000 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $118 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hofstra graduates ($124 vs. $242).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hofstra students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.