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Freeport, NY -S Main St 01Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Hempstead

Hempstead is home to two colleges, with about 20,000 students on campus

Hofstra University (10,069 students on campus) and Nassau Community College (9,701) are inside the town, and Molloy University (3,940) is 3.7 miles from the center, in Rockville Centre. About 8% of Hempstead’s residents are enrolled in college, above New York (7%).

Molloy UniversityHofstra UniversityNassau Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Hempstead. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
21
119,961 students on campus
Nearest college
3.7 mi
Molloy University
Residents in college
8%
Above NY (7%)
Nearest community college
6.6 mi
Nassau · $6,330 tuition
Nearest public university
10.9 mi
CUNY York College · $7,358 in-state
Median household income
$141K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Hempstead

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Three colleges within 6.6 milesMolloy University admits 82% of applicants; Hofstra University admits 68%. Together they have 23,710 students on campus.A community college 6.6 miles awayNassau Community College in Garden City: tuition and fees $6,330 a year for New York residents.In-state price at CUNY York CollegeLiving in New York, CUNY York College charges $7,358 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $15,308. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 8% of residentsAbove New York (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Hempstead

14 private colleges within 14.6 miles, five public colleges within 14.8 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miSt. John'sLong Island UniversityHempstead
University or collegeCommunity college
Molloy UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,940 on campus · 3.7 mi · Rockville Centre82%admitted$24knet price70%graduate$78kearningsRabbinical College of Long IslandUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 161 on campus · 4.6 mi · Long Beach100%admitted$12knet price23%graduateHofstra UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 10,069 on campus · In Hempstead68%admitted$34knet price69%graduate$69kearningsAdelphi UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 6,890 on campus · 6.5 mi · Garden City66%admitted$31knet price67%graduate$75kearningsNassau Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 9,701 on campus · In Hempstead$7knet price23%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $6,330 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Sh'or Yoshuv Rabbinical CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 151 on campus · 7.2 mi · Lawrence0%graduateNew York College of Traditional Chinese MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 179 on campus · 7.5 mi · MineolaBeis Medrash Heichal DovidUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 183 on campus · 7.9 mi · Far Rockaway79%admitted$11knet price53%graduateNew York Automotive and Diesel InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 448 on campus · 10.2 mi · Jamaica$25knet price64%graduate$51kearningsCUNY York CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 5,830 on campus · 10.9 mi · Jamaica64%admitted$4knet price32%graduate$57kearningsCUNY Queensborough Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 9,557 on campus · 11.4 mi · Bayside$4knet price24%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $5,210 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.St. John's University-New YorkUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 18,767 on campus · 11.6 mi · Queens83%admitted$30knet price66%graduate$70kearningsSUNY Old WestburyUniversity or college · Public · 4,120 on campus · 11.6 mi · Old Westbury84%admitted$11knet price45%graduate$59kearningsNew York Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 6,597 on campus · 12.3 mi · Old Westbury81%admitted$22knet price59%graduate$70kearningsRabbinical Seminary of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 601 on campus · 12.5 mi · Flushing98%admitted$5knet price30%graduateFarmingdale State CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 9,077 on campus · 12.6 mi · Farmingdale63%admitted$11knet price53%graduate$70kearningsLong Island UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 16,079 on campus · 12.9 mi · Brookville86%admitted$33knet price57%graduate$60kearningsPlaza CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 264 on campus · 12.9 mi · Forest Hills · mostly online30%admitted$20knet price68%graduate$32kearnings69% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.CUNY Queens CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 15,455 on campus · 13.1 mi · Queens64%admitted$4knet price53%graduate$63kearningsSt Paul's School of Nursing-QueensUniversity or college · For-profit · 945 on campus · 14.6 mi · Rego Park$26knet price56%graduate$104kearningsUnited States Merchant Marine AcademyUniversity or college · Public · 947 on campus · 14.8 mi · Kings Point34%admitted$6knet price82%graduate$91kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Hempstead’s median household income ($141,243) falls.

Rabbinical Seminary of America12.5 mi · Flushing · sticker $19,700$5,425a year
United States Merchant Marine Academy14.8 mi · Kings Point · sticker $9,168$9,168a year
CUNY Queensborough Community College11.4 mi · Bayside · sticker $12,392 · tuition $5,210$10,941a year
CUNY York College10.9 mi · Jamaica · sticker $14,330$12,520a year
CUNY Queens College13.1 mi · Queens · sticker $14,367$12,700a year
Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid7.9 mi · Far Rockaway · sticker $20,540$13,541a year
Nassau Community CollegeIn Hempstead · sticker $14,983 · tuition $6,330$14,164a year
Rabbinical College of Long Island4.6 mi · Long Beach · sticker $21,600$14,752a year
Farmingdale State College12.6 mi · Farmingdale · sticker $18,966$17,919a year
SUNY Old Westbury11.6 mi · Old Westbury · sticker $21,287$20,426a year
Molloy University3.7 mi · Rockville Centre · sticker $50,720$30,144a year
New York Institute of Technology12.3 mi · Old Westbury · sticker $56,976$30,396a year
New York Automotive and Diesel Institute10.2 mi · Jamaica · sticker $33,148$32,898a year
St. John's University-New York11.6 mi · Queens · sticker $65,527$33,661a year
St Paul's School of Nursing-Queens14.6 mi · Rego Park · sticker $34,498$34,498a year
Adelphi University6.5 mi · Garden City · sticker $63,189$35,672a year
Hofstra UniversityIn Hempstead · sticker $70,624$37,348a year
Long Island University12.9 mi · Brookville · sticker $55,424$52,826a year
Plaza College12.9 mi · Forest Hills · mostly online · sticker $26,525—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Hempstead: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →NassauCUNY Queensborough Community CollegeSt. John'sLong Island UniversityQueens College (CUNY)
St. John's University-New York66% graduate$70k earnings$25k typical debt
Long Island University57% graduate$60k earnings$24k typical debt
CUNY Queens College53% graduate$63k earnings$10k typical debt
Hofstra University69% graduate$69k earnings$24k typical debt
Nassau Community College23% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
CUNY Queensborough Community College24% graduate$44k earnings$9k typical debt
Farmingdale State College53% graduate$70k earnings$15k typical debt
Adelphi University67% graduate$75k earnings$25k typical debt
New York Institute of Technology59% graduate$70k earnings$23k typical debt
CUNY York College32% graduate$57k earnings$11k typical debt
SUNY Old Westbury45% graduate$59k earnings$15k typical debt
Molloy University70% graduate$78k earnings$27k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Hempstead

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Hempstead’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 25%Business 16%Health professions 16%Visual & performing arts 7%Communication 4%Public safety 4%Everything else 29%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNassau Community College · 878 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsNassau Community College · 155 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingNassau Community College · 143 graduates a year
$117k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsNassau Community College · 139 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralHofstra University · 112 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationHofstra University · 72 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNassau Community College · 72 graduates a year
$100k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsHofstra University · 66 graduates a year
$88k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Hempstead

Is Hempstead a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Hempstead residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above New York (7). The largest campus in the town, Hofstra University, has 10,069 students on campus.

What colleges are in Hempstead?

Hofstra University and Nassau Community College are inside the town. Molloy University is 3.7 miles from the center, in Rockville Centre.

What is the closest community college to Hempstead, and what does it cost?

Nassau Community College in Garden City, 6.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,330 a year for New York residents; the federal net price, $7,095, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does CUNY York College cost if we live in New York?

Tuition and fees are $7,358 a year in-state and $15,308 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $2,861 (under $30,000 income) to $12,520 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Hempstead. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →