Hofstra vs. Penn State

Hofstra University and Penn State Main Campus side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Hofstra University
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn State (60.6% admitted vs 68.1%). Typical SAT 1330 vs 1320.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State. Average net price is $27,889 vs $35,792 at Hofstra.
  • Graduation: Hofstra 58% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Hofstra $59,200 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Hofstra University Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Penn State more selective
Hofstra68.1%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn State higher
Hofstra1230-1400
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
Penn State $7,903 less
Hofstra$35,792
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Penn State $37,016 less
Hofstra$57,660
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $15,870 less
Hofstra$57,660
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Penn State +29 pts
Hofstra58%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Hofstra +$3,900
Hofstra$59,200
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Hofstra 25,021
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Hofstra 17,035
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • Hofstra 68.1%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Hofstra 10.3%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hofstra 1320
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hofstra 30
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Hofstra 3.74
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Hofstra A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • Hofstra Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Hofstra Low
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • Hofstra 1230-1400
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • Hofstra 28-32
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Hofstra Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Hofstra
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Hofstra $57,660
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Hofstra $57,660
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • Hofstra $18,082
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Hofstra $35,792
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • Hofstra $35,061
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Hofstra 99%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • Hofstra 58%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Hofstra $59,200
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Hofstra 72%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Hofstra $23,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Hofstra $242
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Hofstra 13:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Hofstra
    • Business (30%)
    • Communication (16%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • Hofstra Hempstead, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Hofstra Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Hofstra 10,685
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Hofstra Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Hofstra #194
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Hofstra based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 10,685 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hofstra University is located in Hempstead, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Hofstra University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hofstra University 13:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 20% lower than at Hofstra University ($14,474 vs. $18,082).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38% higher at Hofstra than at Penn State Main Campus (about $15,870 more per year; $57,660 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hofstra University than at Penn State Main Campus (99% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hofstra University students is 209.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($35,061 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Hofstra than at Penn State (30 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Hofstra and Penn State.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Hofstra vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hofstra University graduates have a $3,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Hofstra graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($242 vs. $277).
  • More Hofstra graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (72% vs. 69%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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