Amherst vs. Hofstra

Should I go to Amherst College or Hofstra University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Amherst or Hofstra 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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Amherst College vs. Hofstra University comparison
Amherst College Hofstra University College 3 College 4
Amherst College Hofstra University
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Overview

Amherst Hofstra
Location Amherst, MA Hempstead, NY
Setting Town Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,898 10,238
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #16 #194
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website amherst.edu hofstra.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Amherst Hofstra
Tuition (In State) $63,500 $52,215
Tuition (Out of State) $63,500 $52,215
Room & Board $16,750 $17,168
Avg Net Price $21,367 $35,036
Avg Grant Aid $58,693 $30,958
% Receiving Grant Aid 58% 99%

Admission

Amherst Hofstra
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,864 23,577
Admitted 1,079 16,346
Acceptance Rate 7.3% 69.3%
Enrolled % 43.3% 10.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.74
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 32/35 26/31
SAT Range 1420/1550 1190/1370
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 2, 2024

Academics

Amherst Hofstra
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • English and Literature (12%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Communication (16%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Amherst Hofstra
Graduation Rate 96% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,000 $59,200
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 72%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,975 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $134 $242

Diversity

Amherst Hofstra
% Men 48% 40%
% Women 52% 60%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 57%
% Black 12% 8%
% Hispanic 13% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 10% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Amherst Hofstra
% In-State 13% 64%
% Out-of-State 74% 32%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Hofstra University is larger than than Amherst based on total student enrollment (10,238 students vs. 1,898 students)

Amherst vs. Hofstra Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Hofstra?

  • Amherst College is 21.6% more expensive to attend than Hofstra for in-state tuition ($63,500.00 vs. $52,215.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.6% higher at Amherst than Hofstra University ($63,500.00 vs. $52,215.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Hofstra ($21,367 vs. $35,036)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 2.5% lower than costs at Hofstra University ($16,750 vs. $17,168)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hofstra University than Amherst College (99% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 89.6% larger than aid received Hofstra University ($58,693 vs. $30,958)

Amherst vs. Hofstra Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Hofstra (3.74)
  • Hofstra has a higher acceptance rate (69.3%) than Amherst (7.3%)

Amherst vs. Hofstra Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Amherst is higher than Hofstra University (96% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn on average $22,800 more per year than Hofstra graduates after ten years. ($82,000 vs. $59,200)
  • Amherst College students graduate with a $10,525 lower median federal student loan debt than Hofstra graduates. ($12,975 vs. $23,500)
  • Amherst graduates are paying $108 less per month on federal student loans than Hofstra graduates. ($134 vs. $242)
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hofstra students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 72%)

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