Hofstra University is a well-established private college located in Hempstead, New York. It is the largest private institution in Long Island and is a very popular choice among students. It is a top-ranked school according to Princeton Review’s Best 388 Colleges: 2023 edition and is considered one of the best schools in the Northeast. It is a research-oriented university with more than 10 schools including the Deane School of Law and Northwell School of Medicine. The college has a large student population with an average class size of 21.
The college offers a wide variety of degrees and programs for both undergraduates and graduates. Its notable academic institutes include the Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency, the National Center for Suburban Studies and the Long Island Studies Institute. It also has a number of research centers and laboratories. Notable alumni include actor Tom McGowan of “Frasier,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and Alan Colmes, former co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Hannity and Colmes.”
Students can choose from a number of majors and concentrations. Its most popular undergraduate degrees are in computer science, public administration, business, and economics. In addition, it has a strong reputation for its graduate programs in psychology and education. Its honors program and School for University Studies offer students rigorous educational opportunities. The College also has a variety of special programs designed for talented and motivated students, such as the Pride Scholars program and New Opportunities at Hofstra.
Hofstra offers a range of scholarships for both new and transfer students. The school’s Presidential Scholars award provides up to $29,000 per year for highly qualified applicants. It is available to 25 percent of new undergraduate students who have a combined SAT score of 1120 or better and a high school GPA of 3.6 or higher. Other scholarship programs at the school include the Transfer Assistance Grant and New Opportunities at Hofstra.
While Hofstra’s academic environment is rigorous, it is also a friendly place to study. Its large campus is situated on 244 acres in a suburban setting. It uses a semester-based academic calendar and has an enrollment of about 6,050 students.
Students can find plenty to do outside of classes, with more than 100 clubs and organizations to join. The campus has beautiful landscaping, and there are big grassy quads where you can hang out on sunny days. Many of the buildings on campus are historic, including the former Mitchel Air Force Base, which was decommissioned in 1963. The university asked to use part of the site for its campus, and the remaining concrete runways are now used as parking lots. The local town and village are not particularly welcoming to college students, but they have a lot of restaurants that cater to students with student discounts. The town is also close to NYC, which means students can always take advantage of the city’s cultural and entertainment offerings.