Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, New Jersey · Private Nonprofit · 95.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 56/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus scores 56 (Below Average Value), reflecting a 10.4-year payback period, $42,300 average 6-year earnings, and a 66.6% completion rate. Net price of $22,829 is the central cost anchor. Median debt of $25,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.591 create meaningful financial pressure for graduates outside the top-earning programs. Registered Nursing is the ROI leader by a wide margin: 36 graduates, $91,523 year-one, $98,585 year-four, B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.290. Psychology (F), Film/Video (F), and Drama/Theatre (F) receive F grades. The 66.6% completion rate means roughly one in three students does not finish, amplifying the debt risk. FDU Florham's location in Madison, NJ - suburban North Jersey with access to the New York metro labor market - is a geographic asset for graduates who complete their degrees in business or finance.
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $38,004/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,004/yr |
| Average net price | $22,829/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $91,316 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,273 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 66.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,990 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $38,004/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $22,829/year, or roughly $91,316 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,624/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,331/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,300) and comes to 0.59, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,624 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,383 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,154 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,052 |
| $110,001+ | $34,331 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $12,624 per year - $50,496 over four years. This is a meaningful discount from the $38,004 sticker, and the 36.5% Pell rate indicates that institutional aid reaches this group. At $42,300 average 6-year earnings and a 10.4-year payback, low-income students in nursing or accounting have a workable financial case. For other majors, the payback period extends considerably beyond ten years, which is a meaningful risk for students from economically constrained backgrounds.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $21,154 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $29,052 - a notable step up reflecting declining aid at higher income levels. Middle-income families face $85,000-$116,000 in total four-year cost. At these price points, major selection is the key variable: nursing graduates can service the debt quickly; business and arts graduates face a longer horizon.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $34,331 per year - approximately $137,000 over four years. At $42,300 average 6-year earnings and a 10.4-year payback, the near-full-pay case at FDU Florham requires a program with strong outcomes. Nursing at these earnings supports the cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $55,977 | F |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $45,958 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,593 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $98,585 | B+ |
| Political Science and Government | $53,055 | C |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $48,292 | C |
| Biology | $56,559 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $84,606 | C+ |
| Marketing | $75,172 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $57,829 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is FDU Florham's clear ROI leader: 36 graduates, $91,523 year-one, $98,585 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.290 (ROI grade B+), and median debt of $26,500. The New Jersey healthcare market pays well for nursing, and these year-one figures reflect that. Graduates from this program have a compelling financial case - near-$92,000 starting income against $26,500 median debt creates sub-one-year gross debt coverage. Nursing is the strongest program at this institution.
Accounting
Accounting (17 graduates) earns $53,129 year-one and $87,753 year-four with median debt of $25,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.471 (ROI grade C+). The four-year growth to $87,753 reflects CPA-track placement into regional accounting firms serving the NJ/NY corridor. The C+ grade reflects that year-one earnings against $25,000 debt is adequate but tight.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (22 graduates) earns $52,729 year-one and $84,606 year-four with median debt of $25,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.474 (ROI grade C+). The year-four figure reflects access to New York financial services employment for graduates who succeed in the major. The C+ grade indicates the debt load is manageable at these earnings but does not create a strong payback profile on its own.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (40 graduates) earns $39,442 year-one and $65,593 year-four, with median debt of $25,798 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.654 (ROI grade C). The year-one figure of under $40,000 against $25,798 debt requires careful financial planning. Four-year earnings growth to $65,593 is encouraging but takes time to materialize.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 66.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 95.2% |
| Enrollment | 1,990 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 36.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,429 |
At 95.2% admission rate with no reported test score data, FDU Florham operates with near-open admission. The relevant filter for prospective students is program fit, completion likelihood, and financial modeling - not admission probability. Given the 66.6% completion rate, students and families should understand that one in three enrolled students does not finish, carrying debt without a degree. Support services, academic preparation, and financial planning should be assessed before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus (this school) | 56 | $22,829 | $57,273 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Marian University | 54 | $24,018 | $58,759 |
| Centenary University | 53 | $20,503 | $53,726 |
| Caldwell University | 40 | $24,691 | $53,843 |
Who Thrives Here
FDU Florham admits 95.2% of applicants, making it open-access in practice. No SAT or ACT data is reported. Pell rate of 36.5% reflects a significant share of first-generation and lower-income students. Enrollment is 1,990. The North Jersey location provides internship and career access to New York metro employers, which is a meaningful advantage for business and finance students who leverage it. Students targeting nursing have the strongest financial case.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $22,829 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $57,273 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus: Common Questions
Is Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus scores 56/100 on our ROI scale. At $22,829 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $57,273 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $22,829 a year, or roughly $91,316 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $57,273 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,473 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.4 years for Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $42,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 66.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.