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Hofstra University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Hempstead, NY · 6,488 students

The verdict

Hofstra University charges a net price of $34,176/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $136,704. Graduates earn a median $69,039 ten years after entry, $20,679/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.6 years — a 20-year net return of $276,876, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Hofstra University's 6.6-year payback ranks #581 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 55% of them, and #68 of 203 in New York.

Better ROI than 55% of US colleges#581 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$34,176
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$69,039
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
6.6 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
68%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Hofstra University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$34,176/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$136,704our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$69,039Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$20,679/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$23,621Scorecard, 2026
Payback6.6 yrsour math
20-year net return$276,876our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Hofstra University's own numbers. Net price $34,176 × 4 years = $136,704 total. Median earnings $69,039 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $20,679 a year of premium. $136,704 ÷ $20,679 = 6.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $276,876. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Hofstra University students graduate with?

A median $23,621 in federal loans among completers, or 34% of the $69,039 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Hofstra University students graduate?

69% finish their degree — 31% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $136,704 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $198,122 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Hofstra University expensive compared with other New York colleges?

Its $34,176 net price runs $15,263 above the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, or $61,052 more across the full degree.

Hofstra University: frequently asked questions

Is Hofstra University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Hofstra University charges $34,176/yr after aid ($136,704 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $69,039 ten years out — $20,679/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 6.6 years and returns $276,876 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Hofstra University degree take to pay off?
About 6.6 years. We divide the $136,704 four-year net cost by the $20,679/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Hofstra University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $34,176/yr — about $136,704 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Hofstra University compare to other New York colleges?
It ranks #68 of 203 New York colleges we track by payback. Its $69,039 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $34,176 net price is above the national median of $16,902.