Students from low-income backgrounds at Long Island University achieve exceptional earnings outcomes, ranking in the top 25% nationally for economic mobility.
The university's focus on professional programs, particularly in healthcare, creates pathways to strong career outcomes that justify the private university investment.
Long Island University operates as a mid-sized private nonprofit institution serving students across multiple campuses in New York. While the university enrolls a more selective student body compared to typical public institutions, it delivers notably strong earnings outcomes that place it in the 58th percentile nationally for long-term financial returns. The institution's strength lies particularly in health professions, where graduates achieve some of the highest earnings in their fields.
What distinguishes Long Island University is its focus on professional programs that lead directly to well-paying careers. Nearly 19% of students receive Pell Grants, and about 36% are first-generation college students, yet graduates earn a median of $59,950 ten years after enrollment. The university's mobility profile places it in the "Selective Achievers" category, reflecting strong outcomes for the students it serves, though with more limited access compared to broad-enrollment institutions.
As a private university with multiple locations across Long Island and Brooklyn, Long Island University combines the resources of a comprehensive institution with the focused attention typical of smaller private colleges. For students seeking professional preparation in high-demand fields, particularly healthcare, the university offers a pathway to strong career outcomes despite higher upfront costs.
Long Island University's program portfolio centers heavily on health professions, which drive the institution's strongest financial outcomes and career prospects. Adult Health Nursing stands out as both the largest program with 428 graduates and the highest-earning field with median salaries of $94,508 ten years out. This combination of scale and outcomes makes nursing the university's flagship program and primary economic engine.
Allied health programs complement the nursing focus, with specialized fields like Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment Professions producing 51 graduates who earn a median of $81,158. These programs reflect the university's strategic positioning in healthcare education, where strong industry partnerships and clinical training lead directly to well-paying, stable careers. The concentration in health fields creates a clear value proposition for students seeking professional preparation with predictable career outcomes.
Program selection matters significantly at Long Island University, as outcomes vary widely between fields. While health professions deliver exceptional returns, other programs like General Psychology show more modest earnings of $23,538 for 55 graduates. This variation underscores the importance of aligning program choice with career goals and financial expectations, particularly given the university's private pricing structure where strong earnings outcomes help justify the higher upfront investment.
Long Island University graduates achieve solid long-term earnings, with a median income of $59,950 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution in the 58th percentile nationally for graduate earnings. While graduates earn somewhat less than statistical models might predict based on student characteristics, the university's strength in professional programs creates pathways to strong individual outcomes, particularly in healthcare fields where demand remains consistently high.
The university's standout program is Adult Health Nursing, which graduates 428 students annually with median earnings of $94,508 ten years out, making it both the largest and highest-returning program. Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment Professions also deliver exceptional outcomes, with 51 graduates earning a median of $81,158. These health-focused programs drive much of the university's strong earnings performance and reflect the institution's strategic focus on fields with clear career pathways and strong job security.
Program outcomes vary significantly by field of study. While nursing and allied health graduates see exceptional earnings, other programs like General Psychology show more modest returns, with 55 graduates earning a median of $23,538. This variation underscores the importance of program choice at Long Island University, where selecting a professionally-oriented major can lead to substantially different financial outcomes. The concentration in health professions creates a clear value proposition for students entering these high-demand fields.
Long Island University's affordability profile reflects its status as a private nonprofit institution, with net prices that are higher than typical public universities but include substantial financial aid for many students. Low-income families pay approximately $20,478 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $22,734, and higher-income families pay about $29,036. These prices place the university in the 29th percentile nationally for affordability, indicating costs that are somewhat above average but not at the highest end of private university pricing.
Debt levels require careful consideration for prospective students and families. Typical graduates leave with about $23,577 in federal student loan debt, a manageable amount given the university's median earnings outcomes. However, Parent PLUS borrowing averages $31,873, which represents a more substantial financial commitment for families. The combination of moderate student debt and higher parent borrowing reflects the university's private pricing structure, where families often need to contribute more upfront to make attendance feasible.
What makes Long Island University's costs more sustainable is the strong earnings potential in its key programs, particularly healthcare fields. For students entering nursing or allied health professions, the higher upfront investment often pays off through substantially higher lifetime earnings. The university's loan repayment patterns show that graduates generally manage their debt successfully, with repayment rates that exceed national averages and a 0% federal loan default rate indicating financial stability among alumni.
Long Island University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
