Admit rate has ranged 73%–78% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Adelphi University is a private Long Island institution that combines the intimacy of a liberal arts college (with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio) with the professional punch of strong nursing, business, and psychology programs. Its 65-acre Garden City campus offers a suburban alternative to NYC’s urban grind, though the 8% yield rate suggests admitted students often choose flashier options. Where Adelphi shines is outcomes: graduates earn median salaries 29% above the national average a decade out, with nursing majors leading the charge.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
5,276
In-state tuition
$49,110
Out-of-state tuition
$49,110
Location
Garden City, NY
Sticker Price
$49,110
Acceptance Rate
65.9%
Student-Faculty Ratio
10:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Median Earnings (10 Years)
$75,482
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$75,482
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.5×
Median debt at graduation
$25,000
Graduation rate
67%
First-year retention
83%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
69%
Pell (lower-income) share
51%
First-generation share
35%
Endowment / student
$48,450
Financial health
2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$90,625
Finance and Financial Management Services$57,995
Accounting and Related Services$52,107
Business Administration, Management and Operations$44,170
Mathematics$43,798
Marketing
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
5
Per 1,000 students
0.95
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
95
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
29°F
Annual rain
55.8"
Annual snow
18"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
166
Scholarly works
8,054
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
3.3%
Bottom → top quintile
37%
From bottom quintile
9%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Adelphi University?
Adelphi University's acceptance rate is approximately 66% (Garden City, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Adelphi University?
Admitted students at Adelphi University typically score 1120–1340 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Adelphi University cost?
At Adelphi University, the average net price (after aid) is about $30,783 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Adelphi University?
Adelphi University enrolls approximately 5,276 undergraduate students.
Where is Adelphi University located?
Adelphi University is located in Garden City, NY.
Admissions
Adelphi’s admissions landscape is a study in contradictions: while its 65.9% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. suggests accessibility, the 8% YieldThe share of admitted students who actually choose to enroll. Colleges watch it closely, which is why some weigh how interested you seem. reveals most admitted students opt elsewhere. The university received 17,232 applications last cycle, admitting 12,433. Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. since at least 2018, middle 50% SAT scores for those who submit fall between 1120–1330 (EBRW average: 626) and ACT composites range 22–27. Early applicants enjoy an 87.9% acceptance rate versus 78% overall—a strategic edge for prospective Panthers.
Nursing dominates Adelphi’s academic ecosystem, accounting for 30% of degrees awarded—unsurprising given its clinical partnerships with Northwell Health. Psychology (9%), biology (6%), and business administration (5%) round out the top majors, while niche strengths emerge in public administration (258 degrees) and education (424 degrees). The 4+1 Chemistry/MBA program exemplifies Adelphi’s career-focused acceleration options. Small classes are the norm: 60% of courses enroll fewer than 20 students, and just 5% exceed 50.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$38,289
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other$37,208
Criminal Justice and Corrections$36,668
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Only 20% of Adelphi’s 7,584 students live on campus, creating a commuter-heavy vibe mitigated by 80+ clubs ranging from the African Students Union to Quidditch. The 65-acre campus—a mix of Collegiate Gothic and modern architecture—offers "plenty of green space" (per Niche reviews) alongside renovated facilities like the 100,000-square-foot Nexus Building. Division II athletics (notably lacrosse) draw crowds, while the Office of Community Engagement organizes everything from Broadway trips to voter registration drives. International students praise the "welcoming community" in university-produced videos.
Adelphi’s ROI proposition is compelling: graduates earn a median $75,482 ten years out—29% above the national average. The six-year graduation rate sits at 69% (63% for Pell recipients), outperforming peer institutions. Nursing alumni dominate the career outcomes survey, though 48% of 2021 graduates’ trajectories remain untracked. The Wall Street Journal recently highlighted Adelphi’s salary premiums, while Niche reports $45,519 median earnings five years post-graduation—close to the national average for private colleges.
At $49,110 sticker price, Adelphi isn’t cheap—but 65.84% of students receive aid, bringing the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. to $28,671. The financial aid office touts "free money" like the $40,711 average aid package (combining grants and scholarships). The net price calculator suggests significant discounts for middle-income families, though the shopping sheet disclaimer warns these are estimates only. Notably, Adelphi meets 72% of demonstrated need on average—a figure that lags behind elite privates but surpasses many regional competitors.
Adelphi’s superpower is converting suburban commuters into upwardly mobile professionals—especially in healthcare. Its nursing pipeline rivals far larger universities, while the 10:1 faculty ratio ensures pre-meds aren’t lost in lecture halls. The campus strikes a Goldilocks balance: close enough for NYC internships (a 40-minute LIRR ride), but with grassy quads that feel worlds away from urban chaos. Though it battles "safety school" perceptions, the data tells a different story: alumni out-earn peers by nearly 30%, proving Panther pride pays literal dividends.
Adelphi University logo · sourceGarden City Campus | Adelphi University · sourceCampus Map | Brand Identity | Adelphi University · sourceThe College Tour at Adelphi University · source
