Hofstra vs. Penn State Harrisburg

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

Hofstra University
Penn State Harrisburg

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Hofstra (68.1% admitted vs 97.6%). Typical SAT 1320 vs 1220.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State Harrisburg. Average net price is $23,788 vs $35,792 at Hofstra.
  • Graduation: Hofstra 58% vs Penn State Harrisburg 63%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Hofstra $59,200 vs Penn State Harrisburg $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Hofstra University Penn State Harrisburg
Acceptance rate
Hofstra more selective
Hofstra68.1%
Penn State Harrisburg97.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Hofstra higher
Hofstra1230-1400
Penn State Harrisburg1120-1310
Average net price
Penn State Harrisburg $12,004 less
Hofstra$35,792
Penn State Harrisburg$23,788
In-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $41,688 less
Hofstra$57,660
Penn State Harrisburg$15,972
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $30,702 less
Hofstra$57,660
Penn State Harrisburg$26,958
Graduation rate
Penn State Harrisburg +5 pts
Hofstra58%
Penn State Harrisburg63%
Median earnings (10 years)
Hofstra +$3,900
Hofstra$59,200
Penn State Harrisburg$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Hofstra 25,021
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,316
  • Admitted
  • Hofstra 17,035
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,092
  • Acceptance rate
  • Hofstra 68.1%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 97.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Hofstra 10.3%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hofstra 1320
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hofstra 30
  • Penn State Harrisburg 26
  • Average high school GPA
  • Hofstra 3.74
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3.48
  • Typical high school grades
  • Hofstra A-
  • Penn State Harrisburg B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Hofstra Very High
  • Penn State Harrisburg Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Hofstra Low
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • SAT range
  • Hofstra 1230-1400
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1120-1310
  • ACT range
  • Hofstra 28-32
  • Penn State Harrisburg 22-31
  • Submit test scores
  • Hofstra Test optional
  • Penn State Harrisburg Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Hofstra
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Hofstra $57,660
  • Penn State Harrisburg $15,972
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Hofstra $57,660
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,958
  • Room & board
  • Hofstra $18,082
  • Penn State Harrisburg $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Hofstra $35,792
  • Penn State Harrisburg $23,788
  • Average grant aid
  • Hofstra $35,061
  • Penn State Harrisburg $9,245
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Hofstra 99%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Graduation rate
  • Hofstra 58%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Hofstra $59,200
  • Penn State Harrisburg $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Hofstra 72%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Hofstra $23,500
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Hofstra $242
  • Penn State Harrisburg $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Hofstra 13:1
  • Penn State Harrisburg 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Hofstra
    • Business (30%)
    • Communication (16%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Penn State Harrisburg
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Location
  • Hofstra Hempstead, NY
  • Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PA
  • Setting
  • Hofstra Large Suburban
  • Penn State Harrisburg Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Hofstra 10,685
  • Penn State Harrisburg 4,478
  • Type
  • Hofstra Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Harrisburg Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Hofstra #194
  • Penn State Harrisburg #574

Comparable Facts

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

Hofstra University is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (10,685 students vs. 4,478 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hofstra University is located in Hempstead, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Hofstra University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hofstra University 13:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 20% lower than at Hofstra University ($14,474 vs. $18,082).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 113.9% higher at Hofstra than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $30,702 more per year; $57,660 vs. $26,958).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hofstra University than at Penn State Harrisburg (99% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hofstra University students is 279.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($35,061 vs. $9,245).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at Hofstra than at Penn State Harrisburg (30 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Hofstra and Penn State Harrisburg.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Hofstra average a 3.74 high school GPA, 0.26 higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Hofstra vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Loans and repayment

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