Hofstra vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Hofstra University and Lehigh 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.

Hofstra University
Lehigh University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hofstra Hempstead, NY
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • Hofstra Large Suburban
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Hofstra 10,685
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • Hofstra Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hofstra #194
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hofstra -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • Hofstra Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hofstra
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hofstra $57,660
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hofstra $57,660
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • Hofstra $18,082
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Hofstra $35,792
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hofstra $35,061
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hofstra 99%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hofstra 25,021
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • Hofstra 17,035
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hofstra 68.1%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Hofstra 10.3%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hofstra 1320
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hofstra 30
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hofstra 3.74
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hofstra A-
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hofstra Very High
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hofstra Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • Hofstra 28/32
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Hofstra 1230/1400
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hofstra Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hofstra
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hofstra 13:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hofstra
    • Business (30%)
    • Communication (16%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hofstra 58%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hofstra $59,200
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hofstra 72%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hofstra $23,500
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hofstra $242
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hofstra 40%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • Hofstra 60%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hofstra High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • Hofstra No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • Hofstra 57%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • Hofstra 9%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • Hofstra 8%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hofstra 14%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • Hofstra 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hofstra 1%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hofstra 2%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • Hofstra 4%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hofstra 4%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hofstra 64%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hofstra 34%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Hofstra University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (10,685 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Hofstra vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hofstra or Lehigh? 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 Lehigh University than Hofstra ($34,154 vs. $35,792).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 4.8% lower than at Hofstra University ($17,220 vs. $18,082).
  • Lehigh University is 12.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hofstra (about $7,320 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $57,660.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.7% higher at Lehigh than at Hofstra University (about $7,320 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $57,660.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hofstra University than at Lehigh University (99% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 33.3% larger than aid received by Hofstra University students ($46,731 vs. $35,061).

Hofstra vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hofstra or Lehigh? 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 Lehigh and Hofstra.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 120 points higher than at Hofstra (1320).
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Hofstra).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hofstra University 1230/1400; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hofstra University 28/32; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hofstra - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Hofstra (3.74).
  • Hofstra has a higher acceptance rate (68.1%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Hofstra vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Hofstra vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hofstra and Lehigh? 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).

  • Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Hofstra University's (58%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $30,000 more per year than Hofstra graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $59,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hofstra University graduates have a $756 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($23,500 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, Hofstra graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($242 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hofstra students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.