Adelphi University
Garden City, New York · Private Nonprofit · 65.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 75/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Adelphi University (Garden City, NY) scores 75 (Strong Value). The score is carried primarily by a dominant nursing program (470 graduates, $102,136 year-one earnings) that inflates the institutional average considerably. Average 6-year earnings of $49,400 and a 6.5-year payback period are serviceable. Programs outside nursing and accounting show weak to poor ROI, including F-grade outcomes in Communications, Fine Arts, and Drama.
Adelphi University scores in the top 19% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Adelphi University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $49,110/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $49,110/yr |
| Average net price | $30,783/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $123,132 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $75,482 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $49,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 67.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,276 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $49,110/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $30,783/year, or roughly $123,132 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $24,095/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $35,672/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($49,400) and comes to 0.51, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $24,095 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,700 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,681 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $32,337 |
| $110,001+ | $35,672 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $24,095 per year - about $96,000 over four years. Low-income nursing students who graduate will have a strong financial outcome; those in other programs face a more difficult payback.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $28,681 and the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $32,337 per year. Middle-income families are paying near the institutional average net price. Program choice is the decisive variable: nursing or accounting students at this price point have strong ROI; arts or communications students do not.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $35,672 per year - about $143,000 over four years. At full-pay plus, nursing graduates will recover this cost within Adelphi's cited payback period. High-income families enrolling students in lower-earning programs should model expected earnings against this cost level before committing.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Adelphi University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $112,945 | B+ |
| Psychology | $61,393 | F |
| Biology | $75,921 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,087 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $66,003 | F |
| Social Work | $66,162 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $77,155 | D |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $64,190 | B |
| Marketing | $77,418 | C |
| Accounting | $100,895 | A |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing dominates Adelphi by volume: 470 graduates, $102,136 year-one, $112,945 year-four, with a B+ grade and 0.264 debt-to-earnings ratio. This program is the primary reason Adelphi scores 75 overall - without it, the institutional ROI would drop substantially. Prospective students should verify nursing program capacity before applying.
Accounting
Accounting (27 graduates) shows exceptional four-year earnings: $100,895 at year four and a 0.214 debt-to-earnings ratio with an A ROI grade. New York metro area accounting and finance roles pay well, and the A grade against $21,591 median debt is one of the cleaner ROI outcomes at the school. The small cohort means placement data may reflect a narrow, high-performing subset.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (24 graduates) earns $49,517 at year one and $97,175 at year four with a C+ grade - the four-year jump is large, likely reflecting promotions and job changes in financial services.
Biology
Biology (92 graduates) earns $30,101 at year one and $75,921 at year four with a D ROI grade and 0.831 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-one earnings of $30,101 reflect the typical biology undergraduate pattern - many graduates proceed to medical or graduate school, depressing near-term earnings for the cohort. Students intending professional school should understand this and plan for additional education costs.
Psychology
Psychology (93 graduates) earns $20,458 at year one and $61,393 at year four with an F ROI grade and 1.222 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-one earnings of $20,458 against $25,000 median debt produce a debt-to-income ratio above 1.0 at graduation. This is the weakest ROI program at Adelphi by year-one metrics. Students intending graduate school in clinical psychology should model the total educational cost before committing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Adelphi University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 65.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-680 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-30 |
| Enrollment | 5,276 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,657 |
The ACT 24-30 composite range suggests a reasonably prepared academic pool.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelphi University (this school) | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| University of San Francisco | 80 | $41,431 | $89,812 |
| Elon University | 75 | $41,555 | $74,545 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | 74 | $41,272 | $84,131 |
| Alfred University | 43 | $25,620 | $54,897 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Adelphi University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Adelphi admits 65.9% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 550-680 Math and 570-660 Reading, ACT 24-30 composite. At 5,276 undergraduates and a 31% Pell grant rate, the school draws heavily from Long Island and the New York metro area. Students entering nursing, accounting, or social work will find programs with B+ to A ROI grades at this private school's net price. Students in communications, arts, or drama will face debt loads that significantly exceed early career earnings.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Adelphi University pays off. You'd pay about $30,783 a year after aid ($123,132 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $75,482 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.5 years, a solid return.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $49,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Adelphi University: Common Questions
Is Adelphi University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Adelphi University pays off. It scores 75/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $30,783 a year after aid ($123,132 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $75,482 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.5 years to earn back.
How much does Adelphi University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $30,783 a year, or roughly $123,132 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Adelphi University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $75,482 ten years after enrolling, roughly $33,682 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Adelphi University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.5 years for Adelphi University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Adelphi University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $49,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Adelphi University?
The six-year graduation rate is 67.2%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.