Thursday, October 1, 2026
Adelphi University has received two recent recognitions from Forbes, earning spots on the publication’s lists of top colleges and employers.
The Garden City university ranked No. 260 nationally on Forbes’ 2027 America’s Top Colleges list, making it the highest-ranked private university on Long Island.
Adelphi placed ahead of other Long Island institutions included on the list, including Hofstra University, New York Institute of Technology, Farmingdale State College and SUNY Old Westbury.
“Forbes’ recognition of Adelphi as a top American college reflects what students and graduates have come to expect: a student-focused and individualized education that enriches lives,” Adelphi President Michael Balboni said in a statement.
Forbes evaluates colleges using factors including alumni salaries, student debt, graduation rates, return on investment and academic success.
According to Adelphi, its undergraduates have an average starting salary of $82,002, 37 percent above the national average, based on data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
The university also reported a 72 percent graduation rate, compared with a national average of 59 percent for four-year colleges.
Forbes considered about 2,600 four-year colleges and universities before narrowing the pool and selecting 500 institutions for its 2027 list. The rankings draw on federal education data, post-graduation salary statistics and other measures of academic and career outcomes.
The recognition comes shortly after Adelphi was named to Forbes’ America’s Best Employers by State list for the sixth consecutive year.
Adelphi ranked No. 55 among New York employers and was the only private university on Long Island included on the 2026 list. Forbes recognized 1,400 employers nationwide, including 102 in New York.
“Receiving this recognition from Forbes for the sixth consecutive year is a tremendous honor,” Michael Rhattigan, Adelphi’s executive vice president of finance and administration, said in a statement. “This news comes at an exciting moment for Adelphi as we welcome students back for the new academic year and build on the energy brought by our new president, Michael Balboni. Knowing this award reflects the direct feedback of our employees shows that Adelphi's focus on fostering a supportive, fulfilling workplace remains as strong as ever.”
Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista for the employer rankings, surveying more than 245,000 employees at organizations with at least 500 workers in the United States.
Employees were asked whether they would recommend their employers and evaluated workplaces on factors including compensation, company culture, career growth opportunities and responses to serious workplace issues. The final rankings also incorporated data collected during the previous three years.
