Hofstra University

Hofstra University has experienced a downward trend in national prominence, placing at rank 191 in the 2027 US News ranking after standing at rank 132 in 2018. Admission to the university remains relatively open, though it is slightly more selective than typical institutions in its peer group. In 2025, Hofstra posted an acceptance rate of 68.1%, which was higher than 33% of peer schools in its comparison group of ranking-similar private comprehensive universities. While the university admits over two-thirds of its applicants, it faces noticeable challenges in converting those offers into actual enrollments. Its yield rate reached 10.3% in 2025, a figure higher than 20% of peer schools in that comparison group. This low matriculation rate indicates that admitted students frequently consider alternative college options rather than committing to Hofstra. For prospective applicants, these patterns suggest accessible admission requirements, but families should consider whether the school's trajectory and lower draw align with their educational priorities.

Hofstra University maintains an admissions policy that is test-optional, meaning standardized test scores are considered if submitted. For 2025, published score ranges show the middle half of submitting students scored between 620 and 700 on the SAT Reading section, with a similar spread in Math. Standardized test submission has become relatively uncommon among incoming students, as only 25% of freshmen submitted SAT results in 2025. Among those who did provide scores, the university's median SAT score was higher than 70% of peer schools in its group of similarly ranked private universities. In addition, unofficial applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway, rather than official university records, show that admitted international students held a median unweighted GPA of 3.5. These figures mean that applicants submitting test results generally present competitive credentials relative to peer institutions, but strong high school academic records provide a solid basis for consideration under the university's testing policy.

Academic strengths at Hofstra University are heavily anchored in its professional graduate divisions rather than its largest undergraduate offerings. In the 2026 US News rankings, its medical school ranked 2nd in research and 3rd in primary care, while its law program in trial advocacy placed 12th nationally. In contrast, undergraduate degree conferrals show low concentration across disciplines, with the top three majors accounting for 16.7% of all bachelor's degrees awarded in 2025. These leading fields are standard disciplines, led by Psychology with 104 graduates, followed by Finance and Marketing. Hofstra's largest undergraduate majors are not its highest-ranked programs, yet technical and quantitative fields deliver competitive early-career compensation. Based on 2023 earnings data, bachelor's degree recipients in Accounting and Related Services achieved median first-year earnings of $74,999, followed closely by engineering graduates. Prospective students should recognize that while Hofstra's national academic reputation is driven by elite graduate medical and legal training, undergraduate career outcomes are most lucrative in applied business and engineering disciplines.

Hofstra University enrolls a diverse student population across its undergraduate and graduate divisions, with women making up the majority of the campus community. Among the incoming freshman class in 2025, Asian students formed a sizable demographic with 322 students, accounting for 18.4% of first-year enrollments. International representation in the entering class was modest, totaling 30 students, or 1.7% of the cohort. Continuing undergraduates display a similar demographic pattern, with Asian students comprising a steady portion and international enrollment expanding slightly. At the graduate level, the student body becomes noticeably more global, as international scholars represent nearly one in ten enrollees, while Asian students continue to constitute a meaningful share of advanced degree candidates. Across all degree levels, White students represent the largest single ethnic background, followed by Hispanic and Asian populations. This composition creates a predominantly domestic learning environment at the undergraduate level, complemented by broader international participation in graduate and professional programs.

The age profile at Hofstra University reflects a sharp separation between traditional undergraduate life and early-career graduate studies. In 2025, undergraduate classrooms were overwhelmingly comprised of traditional college-aged individuals. Students aged 18 to 19 constituted 46.1% of all undergraduates, while those aged 20 to 21 made up 40%. Together, these cohorts establish an undergraduate atmosphere centered around young adults pursuing their first degrees immediately after high school. In contrast, the graduate division draws primarily from early-career scholars and recent bachelor's recipients. The 22 to 24 age bracket formed the largest graduate segment at 41.6%, followed by students in their mid-to-late twenties. This structure means campus life balances a conventional collegiate environment for undergraduates with a professionally oriented population of young adults in graduate seminars.

International student enrollment at Hofstra University has contracted over the past decade across both academic levels. In 2025, international students accounted for 3.9% of the undergraduate student body, decreasing from previous years but remaining above the median for ranking-similar private comprehensive universities. At the graduate level, the international share also followed a downward trend, dropping to 9.7% of all advanced degree seekers. Despite smaller overall proportions, international graduates are heavily concentrated in specific graduate fields, particularly quantitative and analytical business disciplines. While international scholars represented only a minor fraction of bachelor's degree recipients in 2025, they comprised a substantial portion of specialized master's cohorts. For example, international students made up 89.8% of master's degree graduates in Business Statistics and 51.3% in Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other. In contrast, health science and clinical programs graduate almost exclusively domestic cohorts. Prospective international students will find that while campus-wide international numbers have declined, quantitative business programs maintain high global representation.

Applicants exploring colleges near Hofstra University have several varied institutional options within the greater New York metropolitan area. Located just 2.8 kilometers away, Adelphi University is a national university ranked 191 in the 2027 US News ranking. Approximately 10.2 kilometers from Hofstra lies St. John's University-New York, a national university holding the 137th spot. Moving closer toward the city, Fordham University is situated 17.8 kilometers away and holds a rank of 85. Additionally, Columbia University in the City of New York is located 19.9 kilometers from campus, ranked 12th nationally. These nearby alternatives give prospective students a range of public transit accessibility and campus environments to evaluate alongside Hofstra.

Campus safety records at Hofstra University indicate a downward trend in overall incident frequency over recent years. In 2025, the university registered a crime rate per 1,000 students of 2.9, down from higher rates recorded in the previous decade. When looking at safety data across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, disciplinary actions made up the largest categories of recorded infractions, totaling 23 drug violation referrals and 22 liquor violation referrals. Beyond substance-related disciplinary citations, authorities documented interpersonal and sexual misconduct cases over that same 2023 to 2025 timeframe, including 14 reports of rape along with incidents of stalking, dating violence, and sexual harassment. The data demonstrates that while policy enforcement regarding alcohol and drugs accounts for the highest volume of campus reports, personal safety and interpersonal offenses also occur. Families reviewing these records can observe that while overall rates have improved, standard awareness regarding campus security and residential conduct remains relevant.