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Private nonprofit · 4-year

Adelphi University

Garden City, New York

50
C
DR Rating
DegreeReturn Rating — Fair value

A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.

Strong return
+$132,738 over 10 years

Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.

Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.

5 yrs
Break-even
+100%
10-year ROI
$71,498
Median earnings as of 2024
84% of Adelphi University students earn more than a typical U.S. high-school graduate (about $28,000/yr) ten years after starting — measured from IRS tax records, not surveys.

The numbers behind the verdict

$30,783
Average net price / yr as of 2024
$71,498
Median earnings (5 yr) as of 2024
$43,348
Median earnings (1 yr) as of 2024
$25,000
Median debt at graduation as of 2024
67%
Graduation rate as of 2024
84%
Earn more than a HS grad as of 2024
78%
Repaying their loans (3 yr) as of 2024
83%
Retention rate as of 2024

Lifetime ROI: the long view

Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.

$132,738
After 10 years
$397,718
After 20 years
$662,698
After 30 years
$927,678
After 40 years

Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.

Equity & access

Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.

By gender
Women
$74,560
Men
$78,947

6% gap between the two groups

By family-income background
From lower-income families
$69,427
From higher-income families
$77,086

10% gap between the two groups

By student status (FAFSA)
Dependent students
$72,997
Independent students
$84,980

14% gap between the two groups

35%
First-generation students
59%
Take federal student loans
75%
Born in the U.S.
Who studies here
White 41%Hispanic 23%Asian 14%Black 10%Other 12%

Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.

Net price by family income

What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.

Family incomeAverage net price / yr
Family income $0–$30k$24,095
$30k–$48k$24,700
$48k–$75k$28,681
$75k–$110k$32,337
$110k+$35,672

How Adelphi University compares

This college against the New York and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.

Graduate earnings over time

Median earnings of Adelphi University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.

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Best-paying majors at Adelphi University

Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.

MajorCredentialEarnings (5 yr)Median debt10-yr ROIVerdict
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingAssociate's$114,243$25,375+878%Strong return
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCertificate$145,809$53,604+607%Strong return
Finance and Financial Management ServicesAssociate's$88,940$25,000+522%Strong return
Accounting and Related ServicesAssociate's$83,321$21,500+452%Strong return
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCertificate$115,911$40,500+414%Strong return
Biology, GeneralAssociate's$78,064$25,000+368%Strong return
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAssociate's$75,102$19,250+339%Strong return
MarketingAssociate's$76,052$27,000+335%Strong return
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherAssociate's$71,498+330%Strong return
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesAssociate's$68,061$24,032+228%Strong return
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasAssociate's$67,494$21,500+224%Strong return
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessAssociate's$66,684$25,000+207%Strong return
Special Education and TeachingProfessional$79,784+183%Strong return
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyCertificate$79,753+182%Strong return
Social WorkAssociate's$62,708$20,750+156%Strong return
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasCertificate$80,758$48,250+154%Strong return
Special Education and TeachingCertificate$80,589$52,625+150%Strong return
Education, GeneralCertificate$75,699+149%Strong return
Social Sciences, GeneralAssociate's$60,794$25,000+124%Strong return
Psychology, GeneralAssociate's$58,689$22,875+96%Strong return
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesCertificate$75,556$92,680+95%Strong return
Social WorkCertificate$67,681$50,286+60%Break-even
Communication and Media StudiesAssociate's$52,133$19,500+4%Break-even
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsAssociate's$51,079$23,228-13%Poor return
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsCertificate$54,701$80,084-36%Poor return

Calculate your own ROI

Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.

ROI at Adelphi University

Or pick your to set cost

Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.

10-yr net gain
Break-even
10-yr ROI

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Admissions & profile

66%
Admission rate
1,219
Average SAT
26
Median ACT
5,276
Undergraduates

Location

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.

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