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Adelphi University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Garden City, NY · 5,276 students

The verdict

Adelphi University charges a net price of $30,783/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $123,132. Graduates earn a median $75,482 ten years after entry, $27,122/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4.5 years — a 20-year net return of $419,308, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Adelphi University's 4.5-year payback ranks #353 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 72% of them, and #43 of 203 in New York.

Better ROI than 72% of US colleges#353 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$30,783
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$75,482
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
4.5 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
66%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Adelphi University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$30,783/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$123,132our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$75,482Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$27,122/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$25,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback4.5 yrsour math
20-year net return$419,308our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Adelphi University's own numbers. Net price $30,783 × 4 years = $123,132 total. Median earnings $75,482 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $27,122 a year of premium. $123,132 ÷ $27,122 = 4.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $419,308. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Adelphi University students graduate with?

A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 33% of the $75,482 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Adelphi University students graduate?

67% finish their degree — 33% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $123,132 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $183,779 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Adelphi University expensive compared with other New York colleges?

Its $30,783 net price runs $11,870 above the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, or $47,480 more across the full degree.

Adelphi University: frequently asked questions

Is Adelphi University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Adelphi University charges $30,783/yr after aid ($123,132 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $75,482 ten years out — $27,122/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 4.5 years and returns $419,308 net over 20 years, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast.
How long does a Adelphi University degree take to pay off?
About 4.5 years. We divide the $123,132 four-year net cost by the $27,122/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Adelphi University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $30,783/yr — about $123,132 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Adelphi University compare to other New York colleges?
It ranks #43 of 203 New York colleges we track by payback. Its $75,482 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $30,783 net price is above the national median of $16,902.