Hofstra vs. Lafayette College

Should I go to Hofstra University or Lafayette College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Hofstra or Lafayette College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Hofstra University vs. Lafayette College comparison
Hofstra University Lafayette College College 3 College 4
Hofstra University Lafayette College
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Overview

 Hofstra Lafayette College
Location Hempstead, NY Easton, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 10,393 2,764
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #204 #66
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hofstra.edu lafayette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Hofstra Lafayette College
Tuition (In State) $54,335 $61,482
Tuition (Out of State) $54,335 $61,482
Room & Board $17,720 $18,640
Avg Net Price $35,687 $34,728
Avg Grant Aid $33,007 $44,126
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 52%

Admission

 Hofstra Lafayette College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,890 9,874
Admitted 16,157 3,107
Acceptance Rate 70.6% 31.5%
Enrolled % 9.9% 22.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.53
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 27/31 30/33
SAT Range 1210/1380 1340/1490
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 Hofstra Lafayette College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Communication (16%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Engineering (19%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

 Hofstra Lafayette College
Graduation Rate 58% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,200 $81,000
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $242 $268

Diversity

 Hofstra Lafayette College
% Men 15% 0%
% Women 25% 0%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 57% 67%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 14% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 4% 9%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

 Hofstra Lafayette College
% In-State 67% 13%
% Out-of-State 29% 79%

Campus

 Hofstra Lafayette College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Hofstra University is larger than than Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (10,393 students vs. 2,764 students)

Hofstra vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hofstra or Lafayette College?

  • Lafayette College is 13.2% more expensive to attend than Hofstra for in-state tuition ($61,482.00 vs. $54,335.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.2% higher at Lafayette College than Hofstra University ($61,482.00 vs. $54,335.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lafayette College than Hofstra ($34,728 vs. $35,687)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hofstra University are 5.2% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($17,720 vs. $18,640)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hofstra University than Lafayette College (99% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 33.7% larger than aid received Hofstra University ($44,126 vs. $33,007)

Hofstra vs. Lafayette College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hofstra or Lafayette College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lafayette College or Hofstra .

  • Accepted freshman Hofstra students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Lafayette College (3.53)
  • Hofstra has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than Lafayette College (31.5%)

Hofstra vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Hofstra or Lafayette College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Lafayette College and Hofstra.

  • The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than Hofstra University (88% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $21,800 more per year than Hofstra graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $59,200)
  • Hofstra University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Hofstra graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Lafayette College graduates. ($242 vs. $268)
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hofstra students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/