
Adelphi University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation of a particular professional program.
Adelphi also identifies specialized accreditation for programs in areas including business, nursing, education, and social work. Because coverage can differ by degree and change over time, applicants entering a licensed profession should verify the exact program's current accreditor and whether its curriculum meets the rules of the state where they intend to practice.
Institutional accreditation is an important condition for participation in federal student aid programs. It can also matter when another college evaluates transfer credit, but it does not require that college to accept every course. Likewise, university accreditation alone does not confer a professional license.
First-year applicants generally submit an undergraduate application, a secondary-school transcript, and the supporting materials required for their applicant category. Adelphi is not an open-admission institution: its reported first-year admission rate was 66% for the referenced entering cohort.
Admissions reporting identifies the secondary-school record, GPA information, and recommendations as required considerations. Class rank and completion of a college-preparatory curriculum may be considered but are not universally required. Adelphi uses a test-optional approach for many undergraduate applicants, although a particular program or applicant circumstance may have different instructions. Among enrolled first-time students in the reported cohort, 22% submitted SAT scores; the median composite among score submitters was 1195. Because relatively few enrolled students submitted scores, that median is not a measure of the entire class.
Applicants should check the current application instructions for an essay or personal statement, recommendation count, and any program-specific materials. International applicants may need to document English proficiency, including through an accepted test or qualifying alternative. Nursing, performing arts, and other specialized pathways may have additional prerequisites, auditions, or review steps. Published deadlines and admission rounds can differ among first-year, transfer, international, and graduate applicants.
Adelphi's reported undergraduate application fee is $50. Because fees and submission routes can change, applicants should check the amount displayed in their chosen application before submitting it; an enrollment deposit is a separate charge.
Students who qualify for an application-fee waiver should request it through the application's waiver process or ask Adelphi admissions how to document eligibility before paying. Common reasons for waiver eligibility can include financial need or participation in a qualifying college-access program, but the applicable criteria and approval process depend on the application route. Graduate and specialized-program applicants should check their own program instructions rather than assume the undergraduate fee applies.
Adelphi reports Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC opportunities through cooperating host institutions rather than units operated directly on its Garden City campus. Participation would therefore involve coordinating Adelphi coursework with the host program's classes, leadership activities, and travel requirements.
ROTC admission, scholarship selection, medical and physical standards, and eventual service commitments are governed by the relevant military program. An ROTC scholarship is not automatic upon enrolling at Adelphi, and students can face different obligations depending on the program and stage of participation. Interested applicants should confirm the current host arrangement and cross-registration procedures with Adelphi and the appropriate ROTC detachment before building a class schedule around it.
Adelphi accepts applications from students who have attended college elsewhere and generally considers credit earned at accredited institutions. Transfer entry is reported for fall, spring, and summer, though course and program availability can vary by term.
Applicants should expect to submit official transcripts from every college attended and follow any instructions concerning high-school records or prior test results. Admission to Adelphi and acceptance of individual courses are separate decisions: credit evaluation considers factors such as the sending institution, course content, grades, and relevance to the Adelphi degree. Some majors, especially those with sequential clinical or professional courses, may have additional entry requirements or limits on how transferred coursework applies.
Adelphi also reports recognizing Advanced Placement, CLEP, DSST, and certain American Council on Education credit recommendations under applicable policies. Students with substantial prior learning should request a program-specific transfer-credit review and ask how many credits must be completed at Adelphi. The useful comparison is not just total credits accepted, but how many remaining courses and semesters the intended major will require.
Adelphi offers international study options that can include semester-length study and shorter programs. The format, destinations, and academic partners available to a student depend on the term and program.
Before committing, students should obtain academic approval for the courses they expect to take abroad and determine how those credits will satisfy major, general-education, or elective requirements. Those in tightly sequenced programs should also ask whether time abroad affects clinical placements, internships, or graduation timing. Program charges, travel, insurance, and the treatment of institutional or federal aid may differ from a regular Garden City semester, making a program-specific budget essential.
10% of admitted students enrolled (1,343 of 12,987)
Application fee
$50Early Decision
NoEarly Action
Yes, deadline December 1Median composite SAT score
1195Median composite ACT score
26Percent of students submitting ACT scores
2%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
22%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
Considered but not requiredRecommendations
RequiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Considered but not requiredAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
NoROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.