Head-to-head comparison
Adelphi University vs Iona University: which has better ROI?
Option A Garden City, NY
Adelphi University
- Net price / year
- $30,783
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,482
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Option B New Rochelle, NY
Iona University
- Net price / year
- $29,188
- Earnings, 10 years
- $73,595
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
Adelphi University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $123,132 in 4.5 years versus 4.6 years at Iona University, on median earnings of $75,482 vs $73,595 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Adelphi University | Iona University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,783 | $29,188 |
| Total net cost | $123,132 | $116,752 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,482 | $73,595 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,999 |
| Payback | 4.5 yrs | 4.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $419,308 | $387,948 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Adelphi University or Iona University?
Iona University, at $29,188 a year after aid versus $30,783 — a gap of $1,595 a year, or $6,380 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Adelphi University or Iona University graduates earn more?
Adelphi University graduates report a median $75,482 ten years after entry, $1,887 more than the $73,595 at Iona University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Adelphi University or Iona University?
Adelphi University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $25,999 at Iona University, a difference of $999. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Adelphi University, against 56% at Iona University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.