Adelphi University is once again the top-ranked private university on Long Island according to Forbes.
On the recently released 2025 Forbes America’s Top Colleges list, Adelphi moved up 119 spots over last year and is now ranked 271.
The annual ranking showcases 500 schools that produce successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds.
“Our rankings improvements in Forbes and The Wall Street Journal are an inspiring reminder that Adelphi’s Momentum 2 strategic plan is built around supporting the most important measure of excellence—our students and their lifelong success,” said Adelphi President Christine M. Riordan.
Forbes’ America’s Top Colleges methodology starts with a review of thousands of U.S. colleges that educate undergraduates according to their Carnegie Classification, which Adelphi earned for 2020–2026. This higher education framework categorizes institutions based on the types of degrees they offer, their research output and their specialty focus. Schools were then evaluated using data from two federal education databases (the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard); the Seattle-based software and data company Payscale; the Washington, D.C.-based public policy think tank Third Way; the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics; and some of Forbes’ own lists.
Several data points demonstrate the successful outcomes of Adelphi alumni. For example, Class of 2022 undergraduates are earning an average salary of $80,090, 29 percent above the national average for college graduates.
Adelphi has also been recognized by The Princeton Review, which featured the University in its 2025 Best Regional Colleges edition. The ranking includes colleges and universities across seven zones—Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, South, Southwest, West and International—deemed by the publication to be academically outstanding and well worth consideration during a prospective student’s college search. Adelphi is featured in The Princeton Review’s Best Northeast section.
Find out more about Adelphi’s rankings and awards.