loading 6,000+ schools…

Compare Hofstra University vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Hempstead, NY · Troy, NY

Hofstra UniversityRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Cost
Price after aid (average)$34,176/yr$36,228/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$28,219/yr$24,078/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$23,621$23,750
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$31,387/yr$26,289/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$33,450/yr$28,212/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$36,769/yr$36,230/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$37,348/yr$42,541/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$250/mo$252/mo
Room & board (on campus)$18,082/yr$18,120/yr
Room & board (off campus)$25,539/yr$18,120/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,000/yr$1,350/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$2,050/yr$1,740/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$70,624/yr$82,404/yr
Tuition (in-state)$57,660/yr$64,081/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$57,660/yr$64,081/yr
Students with Pell Grants25%20%
Students taking federal loans44%51%
Getting in
Students who get accepted68%63%
SAT range (middle 50%)1230–14001375–1510
SAT average13191456
ACT range (middle 50%)28–3230–34
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 26–34 · Math 26–30No data reported
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received22,89016,283
Students accepted16,1579,517
Students who enrolled1,5931,552
Accepted students who enroll9.9%16%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores31%57%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores5%13%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Required
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Required
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate69%84%
Freshmen who come back84%91%
Typical earnings 10 years in$69,039/yr$102,051/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$42,369–$95,464$71,488–$137,023
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)67%85%
White students graduating71%86%
Black students graduating61%68%
Hispanic students graduating66%83%
Asian students graduating73%88%
Typical earnings 6 years in$52,131/yr$83,054/yr
Earn more than a HS grad79%92%
Graduate on time59%72%
Pell students who graduate59%78%
First-gen students who finish62%81%
Low-income students who finish56%76%
Students who transfer out23%No data reported
Typical earnings 8 years in$64,563/yr$95,369/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 19% · Health Professions 17% · Communication & Journalism 11%Engineering 42% · Computer & Information Sciences 23% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 5%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 19% of degreesEngineering — 42% of degrees
2nd most popular programHealth Professions — 17% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 23% of degrees
3rd most popular programCommunication & Journalism — 11% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 5% of degrees
4th most popular programVisual & Performing Arts — 9% of degreesArchitecture — 5% of degrees
5th most popular programPsychology — 7% of degreesMathematics & Statistics — 5% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $149,243/yrComputer Science — $125,338/yr
Degrees in STEM18%83%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment6,4885,714
Students per professor13 : 114 : 1
Graduate students4,1041,299
Average professor pay$14,951/mo$13,820/mo
Full-time professors40%89%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byMiddle States Commission on Higher EducationMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$72,953$96,976
SettingSuburb (large)City (small)
LocationHempstead, NYTroy, NY
RegionMid EastMid East
Founded19351824
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral/Professional UniversitiesDoctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students3.2%7.2%
Men43%69%
Women57%31%
White students44%45%
Black students9.7%5%
Hispanic or Latino students19%11%
Asian students16%22%
Two or more races6.6%5.5%
Other / not reported2.1%5%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students24%14%
Part-time students3.2%0.9%
Students age 25+2.1%0.7%
Spent on teaching per student$19,163/yr$20,696/yr
Endowment$925.3M$1.0B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing3,5003,899
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$12,400/yr$9,460/yr
Meal plan charge$6,160/yr$8,070/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekNo data reported
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army, Navy, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesYesNo
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesNo
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesNoYes
On-campus day careYesNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionYesNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I without footballNCAA Division III with football
Football teamNoYes
Varsity teams1719
Student athletes375666
Athletic scholarships$11.2M$2.8M
Athletics budget$30.2M$13.6M
Athletics revenue$30.2M$13.6M
Recruiting spend$268,622$178,956

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.