What Is Hofstra University?

Hofstra University is a private higher-education institution located on Long Island, New York, close enough to New York City that the university presents the city's cultural and professional opportunities as part of the student experience. It offers both undergraduate and graduate study across multiple schools, with small classes, interdisciplinary learning, and career preparation as its stated emphases. It is a fit if you want a campus-based American university experience with access to the NYC area; it is not a fully online institution based on the information available here.

Academic scope

Hofstra describes its academic programs as designed to let students "follow your own path," whether at the undergraduate or graduate level. The university's own figures give a sense of scale:

The 13 schools span a range of disciplines, and the site separates Undergraduate Admission and Graduate Admission as distinct entry paths. If you are unsure which programs exist, the site points to a full academic program listing rather than a single catalog page.

What the university emphasizes

Three themes recur in Hofstra's own description of itself:

• Small classes and known faculty. The 13:1 ratio and the phrase "expert faculty who know you" frame teaching attention as a core selling point.
• Interdisciplinary learning. Hofstra says it "bridges academic exploration with interdisciplinary learning," meaning students are encouraged to combine fields rather than stay in one lane.
• Career readiness. The internship average (2.35 per undergraduate) and the "career-ready opportunities" language suggest applied experience is built into the pitch, not treated as optional.

Campus life and location

Hofstra positions its campus as a community in its own right — more than 200 student clubs, traditions, and events — while also leaning on proximity to New York City for cultural and professional access. The site's framing is essentially: a residential-style campus environment plus a major metropolitan job and culture market within reach.

Athletics are part of the picture too: 21 Division I teams, which matters if you are looking at NCAA competition level.

Signs of active research and professional training

The featured items on the site show the kinds of activities happening at Hofstra beyond classroom instruction:

• Hofstra Law established an Institute for Legal Technology & Innovation, supported by a $1 million gift from an alumnus.
• Oceanography students use Long Island's coastline as a field classroom.
• The university reported two Top 100 rankings from U.S. News & World Report.
• A one-week FBI intensive in forensic linguistics is taught at Hofstra.
• Engineering opened a new wind tunnel.
• Medical students at the Zucker School of Medicine tested EMT training, and students advanced research at the Feinstein Institutes.

These are examples of the institution's direction rather than a complete program list, but they indicate strength in law, health sciences, engineering, and applied/experiential learning.

How to decide whether it fits

Use these conditions to judge fit:

• You want a campus experience near a major city. Hofstra's location and messaging are built around Long Island plus NYC access.
• You value small classes over large lectures. The 13:1 ratio is the relevant number to check against your other options.
• You want internship-heavy undergraduate study. The 2.35 average internships per undergraduate is a concrete signal.
• You are comparing graduate programs. With 200 graduate programs across 13 schools, check the specific school and program rather than the university overall.

If you need current costs, application deadlines, or admission requirements, those are not covered in the material available here — go to Hofstra's admission pages and confirm directly, since the site notes a free application period in October but does not state standing pricing.