Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Teaneck, New Jersey · Private Nonprofit · 90.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Fairleigh Dickinson University's Metropolitan Campus in Teaneck, NJ scores 62 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The sticker tuition is $38,004, but net price drops to $15,404, reflecting significant institutional aid. Median debt of $25,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.591 represent a moderate but not exceptional debt burden. The school's Northern New Jersey location provides access to New York City employment markets, which lifts earnings in healthcare and finance. Program outcomes vary sharply: nursing is strong; drama and film produce F-grade ROI.
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $38,004/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,004/yr |
| Average net price | $15,404/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,616 |
| 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 | 9.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 53.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,627 |
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 $15,404/year, or roughly $61,616 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 $10,218/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,735/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 | $10,218 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,475 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,057 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,123 |
| $110,001+ | $28,735 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $10,218 net per year at FDU Metropolitan. The 53.3% completion rate is the risk: for students who do not complete, $10,218/year accumulates without producing a credential. Low-income students should prioritize nursing or business and establish a clear graduation plan.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $15,057 per year, and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $23,123. The jump from lower-middle to upper-middle income is substantial - about $8,000/year.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,000+) pay $28,735 per year - over $115,000 for four years. At $42,300 average 6-year earnings, the return at full price is slow. FDU Metropolitan at near-sticker price is not a compelling financial choice for high-income families with options.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $60,525 | C |
| Psychology | $55,977 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $98,585 | B+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $51,148 | D |
| Biology | $56,559 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,593 | C |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $48,292 | C |
| Marketing | $75,172 | D |
| Accounting | $87,753 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $84,606 | C+ |
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 Metropolitan's strongest program: 39 graduates, $91,523 first-year earnings, $98,585 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.290 (ROI grade B+). This is the highest first-year earnings of any program on campus. The NJ-New York metro nursing market is well compensated. Median debt of $26,500 is manageable against immediate earnings. Nursing is the clearest financial case for attending FDU Metropolitan.
Accounting
Accounting (8 graduates) earns $53,129 at year one and $87,753 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.471 (ROI grade C+). The four-year jump to $87k reflects the CPA pipeline and New York-area corporate accounting market, where Big Four and regional firm wages climb steeply after initial placement. The small graduate count makes this data point fragile, but the trajectory is consistent with broader accounting market norms in the metro. Median debt of $25,000 is at campus average.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is FDU Metropolitan's second-largest program at 32 graduates (excluding Liberal Arts), with $39,442 first-year earnings, $65,593 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.654 (ROI grade C). Against $38,004 sticker tuition, general business at FDU Metropolitan requires students to leverage the New York proximity aggressively - internships, networking, and direct employer access - to produce outcomes that justify the price.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts is FDU Metropolitan's largest program at 191 graduates, with $39,071 first-year earnings, $60,525 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.665 (ROI grade C). At 191 graduates this is effectively the catch-all program for students who do not complete a specific major. The outcomes are mediocre: $39,071 year-one in the New York metro barely covers rent in Bergen County. Students enrolled in Liberal Arts at FDU Metropolitan should be building specific skill sets and internship experience that will override the generic degree designation in employer evaluations.
Psychology
Psychology (48 graduates) earns $23,969 at year one and $55,977 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.042 (ROI grade F). Year-one earnings of $23,969 in Northern New Jersey represent genuine financial hardship. The four-year figure suggests some graduate school completers, but the F grade reflects that a substantial share of graduates cannot service their $24,966 median debt at year-one earnings. Psychology at FDU Metropolitan is not a financially defensible choice without a specific and credible plan for clinical or graduate school.
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-Metropolitan 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 | 90.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,627 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,579 |
At 90.7% admission, FDU Metropolitan is essentially open-access for qualified applicants. No test score data is published. For a private institution charging $38,004 in sticker tuition, this admission rate means that selectivity is not a distinguishing feature. Students should negotiate aid aggressively.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
FDU's ROI score is 62. The completion rate is 53.3%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus (this school) | 62 | $15,404 | $57,273 |
| St Catherine University | 66 | $19,764 | $59,282 |
| Robert Morris University | 63 | $23,003 | $62,105 |
| Niagara University | 61 | $17,248 | $56,196 |
| Centenary University | 53 | $20,503 | $53,726 |
| Caldwell University | 40 | $24,691 | $53,843 |
Who Thrives Here
FDU Metropolitan admits 90.7% of applicants (no SAT/ACT data available) at 2,627 students in Teaneck, NJ, 10 miles from Midtown Manhattan. The 22% Pell grant rate is relatively low, reflecting the NJ suburban demographic. It is a poor fit for students in arts, drama, film, or liberal arts - those programs produce ROI grades of F and poor earnings against a $25,000 debt load. Students should be explicit about what program they are entering before committing to FDU's cost structure.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $15,404 a year after aid ($61,616 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $57,273 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates.
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-Metropolitan Campus: Common Questions
Is Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 62/100 on our ROI scale. At $15,404 a year after aid ($61,616 over four years) against $57,273 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan 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 $15,404 a year, or roughly $61,616 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-Metropolitan 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-Metropolitan 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 9.1 years for Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan 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-Metropolitan Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 53.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.