Hofstra vs. Penn State

Deciding between Hofstra University and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • 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
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hofstra -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Hofstra Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hofstra
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • 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%

  • Admissions

  • 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%
  • Enrolled
  • 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
  • ACT Range
  • Hofstra 28/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Hofstra 1230/1400
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hofstra Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hofstra
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • 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%)

  • Outcomes

  • 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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hofstra 40%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Hofstra 60%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hofstra High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Hofstra No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Hofstra 57%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Hofstra 9%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Hofstra 8%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hofstra 14%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Hofstra 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hofstra 1%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hofstra 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Hofstra 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hofstra 4%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hofstra 64%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hofstra 34%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

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 table 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.

Hofstra vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hofstra or Penn State? 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 Penn State Main Campus than Hofstra ($27,889 vs. $35,792).
  • 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).
  • Hofstra University is 179.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $37,016 more per year; $57,660.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38% higher at Hofstra than at Penn State Main Campus (about $15,870 more per year; $57,660.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • 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).

Hofstra vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 10 points higher than at Hofstra (1320).
  • Incoming Hofstra students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hofstra University 1230/1400; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hofstra University 28/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hofstra - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Hofstra has a higher acceptance rate (68.1%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Hofstra vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Hofstra vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hofstra and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Hofstra University's (58%).
  • Graduates from Hofstra University earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • 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 https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.