Hofstra vs. RPI

Should I go to Hofstra University or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Hofstra or RPI 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

RIT Adelphi University Stevens St John's SUNY Stony Brook Binghamton University Northeastern Seton Hall University U of R Lehigh MIT WPI
Hofstra University vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
Hofstra University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Hofstra University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Hofstra RPI
Location Hempstead, NY Troy, NY
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 10,393 7,024
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #204 #124
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hofstra.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Hofstra RPI
Tuition (In State) $54,335 $60,360
Tuition (Out of State) $54,335 $60,360
Room & Board $17,720 $17,530
Avg Net Price $35,687 $35,940
Avg Grant Aid $33,007 $43,994
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

 Hofstra RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,890 16,283
Admitted 16,157 9,517
Acceptance Rate 70.6% 58.4%
Enrolled % 9.9% 16.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 27/31 30/34
SAT Range 1210/1380 1330/1500
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 RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Communication (16%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 Hofstra RPI
Graduation Rate 58% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,200 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $242 $284

Diversity

 Hofstra RPI
% Men 15% 10%
% Women 25% 5%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 59%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 14% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 4% 11%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Hofstra RPI
% In-State 67% 36%
% Out-of-State 29% 58%

Campus

 Hofstra RPI
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 RPI based on total student enrollment (10,393 students vs. 7,024 students)

Hofstra vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hofstra or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 11.1% more expensive to attend than Hofstra for in-state tuition ($60,360.00 vs. $54,335.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.1% higher at RPI than Hofstra University ($60,360.00 vs. $54,335.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hofstra University than RPI ($35,687 vs. $35,940)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 1.1% lower than costs at Hofstra University ($17,530 vs. $17,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hofstra University than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 33.3% larger than aid received Hofstra University ($43,994 vs. $33,007)

Hofstra vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Hofstra (3.74)
  • Hofstra has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than RPI (58.4%)

Hofstra vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Hofstra or RPI? 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 RPI and Hofstra.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than Hofstra University (84% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $23,300 more per year than Hofstra graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $59,200)
  • Hofstra University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($23,500 vs. $27,500)
  • Hofstra graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($242 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hofstra students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 72%)

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