1000-plus graduate scholars crossed the stage, ready to shape the future, at Adelphi's 129th Commencement.
Adelphi’s graduate students are a remarkable cross section of scholars. They range from age 21 all the way to age 68, hail from 19 states and 26 countries, and earned degrees in one of more than 90 programs.
The exceptional range in age, program and country of origin prove that Adelphi is making significant progress in a stated goal of our strategic plan, Momentum 2, to “open our doors to more graduate and professional students … to grow our impact locally, nationally and globally.”
In fact, in this single academic year, 906 students earned master’s degrees, 54 earned doctorates and 85 earned graduate certificates to advance their careers in dozens of fields.
Strong U.S. News & World Report Rankings for Graduate Programs
Adelphi prepares graduate and doctoral students for the next phases of their careers with more than 95 advanced degree programs across a diverse range of disciplines—from social work to education to business to nursing. Three new graduate degrees—a doctorate in social work, a PhD in learning sciences and an MS in artificial intelligence—will launch in Fall 2025. These innovative programs expand Adelphi’s commitment to cutting-edge research and professional development, equipping students with advanced skills for high-demand fields.
Graduate rankings are keeping pace. The University earned a position on seven 2025 U.S. News & World Report graduate program lists, five with significant upward trends:
- Best Graduate Nursing School
- Best Psychology School
- Best Public Health School
- Best Speech-Language Pathology Program
- Best Graduate Part-Time MBA Program
U.S. News also honored Adelphi with Best Audiology Program and Best Clinical Psychology Program rankings.
Christopher Storm, PhD, provost and executive vice president, noted, “We are incredibly proud of the recognition Adelphi University has received in this year’s rankings … . This reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff and students in continuously striving for excellence in education, research and service to our communities.”
The Top Four Most Popular Graduate Programs at Adelphi
For many of Adelphi’s graduate students, social work is their calling. Adelphi’s School of Social Work, a distinguished social work program with a history of excellence for more than 70 years, granted 192 degrees of Master of Social Work this year—the largest share of Adelphi’s master’s degree recipients. Thirteen earned their PhDs. In addition, Joanne Corbin, PhD, dean, noted, “Our School of Social Work is growing into the future, adapting and responding to the needs of our community, helping our students live our mission of social justice.”
Seventy-one students in the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business earned their master’s degrees in the rapidly growing field of Business Analytics, a STEM-designated degree program. Graduates are trained to optimize business results in companies around the globe in what MaryAnn Hyland, PhD, dean of the Willumstad School, calls “a business degree of the future.”
Graduates of the 4+1 Scholar Teacher Education Program (STEP), a six-year combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program that saves students a year of time and tuition and which is offered by the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education and Health Sciences, was the third-most-popular degree program, with 65 graduates taking leadership roles in classrooms around New York and the United States.
Adelphi’s Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology—the first university-based professional school of psychology—graduated the largest group of doctoral students, 25 in all. Adelphi’s newest clinical psychology doctoral graduates are poised to deliver insights and drive change in mental health across clinics, hospitals, private practice, research and teaching.
Home States—and Home Countries—of Adelphi’s Graduate Students
While most of the U.S.-based students hail from New York (90 percent) or New Jersey, the graduate student body also represented 26 other countries from around the globe. Adelphi is a welcome community for international graduate students, offering visa support, academic tutoring and career guidance.
The most graduate students, by far, are from India, with 11o students earning their master’s degrees here at Adelphi; China follows with 11. Others came from as far away as Vietnam, Uganda, Spain, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Singapore and Egypt—bringing their varied cultural perspectives to classrooms here and increasing Adelphi’s global footprint when they return to their home countries.