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CollegeRanker
Private nonprofit Garden City, NY · Suburban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A Earnings A Social Mobility A- Diversity
Graduation Rate
68% B-
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$75,482 A
Top 5% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$30,783 F
80% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
66% B-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +85% vs avg
Graduation +19% vs avg
Net Price 80% vs avg
Mobility Top 8%

Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.1 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Nursing Colleges in New York.

15.1× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $15.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,733,571.

What The Data Says

  1. A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduates earn 85% more than the national college median.

  3. Social mobility rate of 3.26% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $15.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Adelphi University Matters

Adelphi University is a private doctoral / professional university in Garden City, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 5% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Doctoral / Professional University
Carnegie Class
Doctoral/Professional
Enrollment
5,276
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology

Why students choose Adelphi University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 5% of colleges
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B-
Top 33% overall
A
Earnings
$75,482 median
C
Value
2.5× net price
F
Affordability
$30,783/yr net
B-
Graduation
68% graduate
A
Social Mobility
3.3% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Selectivity
66% admit rate
A-
Diversity
0.74 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Adelphi University serves around 5,276 students and is an excellent fit for those pursuing degrees in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, and Social Sciences. With a 66% acceptance rate, it’s accessible for a range of applicants looking for a supportive academic environment. The graduation rate stands at 68%, which indicates that many students successfully navigate their studies and earn their degrees.

After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $75,482 within ten years. This figure is encouraging, especially considering the affordability of Adelphi. The net price after financial aid is around $30,783, making it a reasonable investment for the return on earnings. While 31% of students receive Pell Grants, which help low-income students, it’s clear that there are pathways to economic mobility for those who put in the effort.

When considering the bottom line, the median debt for graduates is $25,000, which is manageable for many. Students who thrive at Adelphi tend to be those who are self-motivated and engaged, taking advantage of the university's resources and community. This supportive atmosphere, combined with a focus on practical outcomes, makes it a solid choice for students aiming for a successful career.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Adelphi University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Adelphi University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Garden City, New York, Adelphi University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 66% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,219. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.

Acceptance Rate
66%
Retention Rate
83%
SAT Average
1219
ACT Midpoint
26
SAT Range
1120–1340
ACT Range
24–30
Full-Time Faculty
31%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$13,657
Student–Faculty Ratio
12:1
Diversity Index
0.74
First-Gen Students
35%
Applicants
17,301
Admitted
12,591

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Adelphi University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Adelphi University is $49,110, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $30,783. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,095 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$49,110
Out-of-State
$49,110
Avg Net Price
$30,783
Median Debt
$25,000
Pell Grant Rate
31%
Federal Loan Rate
59%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$24,095
Family Income $30K–$48K
$24,700
Family Income $48K–$75K
$28,681
Family Income $110K+
$35,672

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Adelphi University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Adelphi University earn a median of $75,482, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$63,688
8 Years
$71,399
10 Years
$75,482
Debt-to-Earnings
0.33x
Earning > $25K
76%

Earnings Trajectory

$63,688 6yr $71,399 8yr $75,482 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (592)
62%
100% (592)
62%
100% (592)
62%
100% (592)
62%

How Adelphi Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation68%Earnings 10yr$75KNet Price$31KRetention83%Median Debt$25KPell Grant Rate31%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$24K$0-30K$25K$30-48K$29K$48-75K$36K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%8.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%37.4%MOBILITY3.26%

College ROI Calculator

Is Adelphi University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Adelphi University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $30,783/year ($123,132 total). Graduates earn $75,482 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,856,703 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,733,571 (15.1× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$123,132
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,856,703
Net Return
$1,733,571
ROI Multiple
15.1×
Cost Per Year
$30,783
Median Debt
$25,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
68%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Adelphi University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Adelphi University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.26%, among the highest in the country. About 8.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 37.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $96,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
3.26%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
37.4%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
8.7%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$96,300

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Adelphi University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Adelphi University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.86, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.86
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.0%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-22,627,075

Top Programs

The fields Adelphi University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Adelphi University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Garden City, New York, Adelphi University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 66% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,219. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Adelphi University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Adelphi University is $49,110, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $30,783. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,095 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.

Is Adelphi University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Adelphi University earn a median of $75,482, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

Does Adelphi University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Adelphi University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.26%, among the highest in the country. About 8.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 37.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $96,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Adelphi University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Adelphi University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.86, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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