Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Adelphi University

Adelphi University's nursing program delivers exceptional starting salaries that significantly outpace national expectations, with graduates earning $102,136 in their first year—36% higher than the national median for nursing programs. This places the program in the 95th percentile nationally, making it one of the top-performing nursing programs in the country for graduate earnings.

However, the New York context tells a more nuanced story. While Adelphi still outperforms the state median by 14%, it ranks in the 60th percentile among New York nursing programs, placing it in solid but not elite company within the state. Several SUNY and CUNY programs produce higher-earning graduates, suggesting that students could potentially achieve similar or better outcomes at lower-cost public institutions.

The financial picture is balanced with $27,000 in median debt—exactly at both national and state medians—resulting in a very manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26. This means graduates can reasonably expect to pay off their loans within about three months of their first-year salary. The modest 3% earnings growth over four years is typical for nursing, where strong entry-level salaries often plateau quickly. For families prioritizing strong immediate earning potential with reasonable debt, Adelphi delivers, though cost-conscious parents should compare total expenses against higher-performing public alternatives in New York.