At $35,129/yr net price, Hofstra University graduates earn $69,039/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $35,039/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $35,129 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $140,516 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $69,039/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$35,039/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 67.1% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,621 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $29,667/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $31,575/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $35,162/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $38,553/yr |
| $110,001+ | $37,740/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $121,145 | $116,464 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $108,092 | $64,525 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other. | Master | $84,653 | |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Doctoral | $83,915 | $109,995 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Master | $78,343 | |
| Taxation. | Master | $75,518 | $30,270 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $66,592 | $28,483 |
| Medicine. | Doctoral | $65,915 | $153,791 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Master | $64,791 | $57,394 |
| Public Health. | Master | $64,121 | $49,435 |
The Risk Factor
67.1% of students at Hofstra University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 33% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Hofstra costs about $35,000 a year net, and median earnings ten years out land near $69,000. That gap works if you finish and pick the right major, but the sticker price leaves little room for error. A median debt around $23,600 is manageable against those earnings, so the risk here is less about borrowing too much and more about paying a high price for a degree that doesn't lead anywhere.
The engineering and business majors carry this school financially. Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Science, and Computer Science all clear $62,000 early, and Computer Science does it on Long Island, where tech and finance jobs sit within commuting distance of the New York metro. Finance and Accounting graduates start in the mid-$50,000s, feeding directly into the same regional market. If you're aiming at these fields, the numbers hold up.
Outside those five programs, no bachelor-level earnings data is listed, so treat any major beyond engineering and business as an open question. At a private-college price, a soft major with unknown outcomes is where the money gets lost.
The net price tiers are the real warning. Families earning under $30,000 still pay nearly $30,000 a year, and the price barely drops as income falls. If your family makes under $48,000, you'll pay roughly the same net price as families earning over $110,000. That flat structure means Hofstra doesn't discount much for lower incomes, and the aid doesn't scale the way it does at wealthier private schools.
This school fits you if you're headed into engineering, computer science, or business and can commute or keep housing costs down. If you're low-income or undecided on major, the price is too high for the return you're likely to get.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hofstra University worth the high tuition cost?
Hofstra's $35,000+ annual net price leads to modest 10-year earnings of $69,000, making it a poor return on investment for most students. The school's 67% graduation rate means one in three students pay without completing their degree.
What are the best paying majors at Hofstra University?
Allied health programs at Hofstra produce the highest earnings at $121,000 after 10 years, followed by business administration at $108,000. Most other programs result in significantly lower earnings that may not justify the cost.
How much student debt do Hofstra University graduates typically have?
Hofstra graduates carry a median debt of $23,621, which is manageable compared to the high annual costs. However, the relatively low post-graduation earnings make even this moderate debt burden challenging for many programs.
Does Hofstra University provide good financial aid to make it affordable?
Despite financial aid, students still pay over $35,000 annually at Hofstra, indicating limited aid effectiveness. The high net price combined with average earnings outcomes suggests the school's aid packages don't adequately address affordability concerns.