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Adelphi University

Private nonprofit Garden City, NY · Suburban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data reported · Agent Insights · Claim Your School's Profile ➜
68%
Graduation Rate
$75,482
Earnings (10yr)
$30,783
Net Price
66%
Acceptance Rate
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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

1

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 admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 66%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,219. The school reports a graduation rate of 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
2

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Adelphi University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $49,110 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $30,783 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,095 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $25,000.

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

What Families Actually Pay

$24,095
Family Income $0–$30K
$24,700
Family Income $30K–$48K
$28,681
Family Income $48K–$75K
$35,672
Family Income $110K+
3

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 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.

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

Earnings Trajectory

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

Graduation by Timeframe

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

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.

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

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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

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

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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.86 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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

Endowment
Total Expenses
Federal Grants
$-22,627,075
Investment Income

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 admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 66%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,219. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 68%.

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Adelphi University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $49,110 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $30,783 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,095 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $25,000.

Is Adelphi University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Adelphi University earn a median of $75,482 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.86 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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