Fordham University
Bronx, New York · Private Nonprofit · 59.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 79/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Fordham University scores 79 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale. The headline numbers: $53,600 average 6-year earnings, an 81.9% completion rate, a 6.3-year payback period, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.453. Net price is $44,338, but Finance (262 graduates, $83,789 year-one, $141,860 year-four) and Accounting (79 graduates, $76,473 year-one, $117,024 year-four) drive strong top-line ROI for those tracks. Fordham's location in New York City is a key factor the earnings data captures imperfectly: proximity to Wall Street and Midtown finance and consulting firms gives Fordham's Gabelli School graduates a direct pipeline that other schools cannot replicate. At $64,915 sticker tuition, the net price of $44,338 represents meaningful but not aggressive discounting. Median debt of $24,300 is moderate. The 10-year median earnings of $85,569 suggest graduates hit their stride after the 6-year window, particularly those who spent early career years in accounting or finance and moved up. Humanities and social science programs (History at ROI grade D, Sociology at D, Religion at D) drag the aggregate figure - students choosing those paths should plan accordingly.
The median graduate earns $85,569 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Fordham University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $64,915/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $64,915/yr |
| Average net price | $44,338/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $177,352 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $85,569 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $53,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,300 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $258 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 81.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 10,512 |
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: $64,915/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $44,338/year, or roughly $177,352 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 $32,474/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $52,228/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,300, which works out to about $258 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($53,600) and comes to 0.45, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $32,474 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $31,657 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $37,313 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $42,030 |
| $110,001+ | $52,228 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $32,474 per year at Fordham - a net price that is high even with generous institutional aid, given the $53,600 average 6-year earnings. The 30001-48000 bracket actually pays slightly less at $31,657, a modest step down. For low-income students who land in Finance or Accounting, the investment is more defensible; for those in humanities or social sciences, the four-year cost against $44,000-$45,000 starting salaries is a genuine risk. The 81.9% completion rate means most students who start do finish.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $37,313 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $42,030 at Fordham. Middle-income families face a substantial net cost. For program-specific tracks in business or CS, the ROI case holds up. For undecided students or those leaning toward social sciences, the annual outlay is $37,000-$42,000, against average institutional earnings of $53,600 at year six.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $52,228 per year - roughly $209,000 all-in over four years. At a 6.3-year payback and $53,600 average earnings, the full-pay case depends heavily on which program the student enters. Business and CS paths make the investment defensible. Humanities and social science paths at full pay create long payback windows that exceed 10 years at median earnings.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Fordham University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management | $141,860 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $90,192 | C+ |
| Psychology | $62,273 | D |
| International Relations | $74,419 | C |
| International Business | $106,665 | B |
| English Language and Literature | $63,834 | F |
| Economics | $94,170 | B |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $84,366 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $77,244 | C |
| Biology | $73,136 | 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.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is Fordham's clearest ROI story: 262 graduates, $83,789 year-one median earnings, $141,860 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.320 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $26,850 is less than four months of year-four earnings. Fordham's position in New York City feeds graduates directly into banking and asset management recruitment pipelines that would be harder to access from other geographies. Year-four earnings are $141,860.
Accounting
Accounting (79 graduates) earns $76,473 year-one and $117,024 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.313 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $23,970 is well-matched against starting earnings in the mid-70s. The four-year jump to $117k reflects promotions and potential senior associate or manager-level roles.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (90 graduates) earns $64,614 year-one and $97,265 year-four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.417 (ROI grade B).
International Relations
International Relations (152 graduates) earns $41,809 year-one and $74,419 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.588 (ROI grade C). Near-term earnings are modest for students entering government, NGO, or consulting roles. The four-year jump to $74k is meaningful but represents mid-career government or nonprofit salaries more than a high-earnings trajectory. Students pursuing law school or graduate degrees in international affairs after Fordham likely do better financially long-run than this 4-year figure captures.
Economics
Economics (109 graduates) earns $55,020 year-one and $94,170 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.436 (ROI grade B). Economics at Fordham feeds into consulting, finance, and grad school at rates that drive the four-year figure to $94k - solid for a liberal arts economics program.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Fordham University’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 | 59.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 660-750 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 660-730 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 30-33 |
| Enrollment | 10,512 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $16,236 |
At 59.3%, Fordham is moderately selective. The SAT Math 660-750 and Reading 660-730 ranges describe the middle 50%; ACT 30-33 is the parallel window. Admissions is competitive but achievable for well-prepared students. The Finance and Accounting programs at the Gabelli School of Business are the most direct paths to the highest-earnings outcomes, though Fordham's liberal arts programs also produce competitive outcomes for law school applicants.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fordham University (this school) | 79 | $44,338 | $85,569 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Southern Methodist University | 79 | $40,892 | $78,354 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | 75 | $18,725 | $84,131 |
| Bellevue University | 65 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
Who Thrives Here
Fordham admits 59.3% of applicants with SAT ranges of 660-750 Math and 660-730 Reading; ACT 30-33 composite. At 10,512 enrolled, it is a mid-size university with two primary campuses (Rose Hill in the Bronx and Lincoln Center in Manhattan). The Pell grant rate of 21.4% is moderate. Fordham attracts students interested in business, law, communications, and international affairs - it has strong programs in all four. The Jesuit identity shapes campus culture without dominating academic content. Students who thrive in urban environments and want access to New York City internship markets should find Fordham's location a genuine differentiator.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Fordham University pays off. You'd pay about $44,338 a year after aid ($177,352 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $85,569 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.3 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 81.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $24,300 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $53,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, 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.
Fordham University: Common Questions
Is Fordham University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Fordham University pays off. It scores 79/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $44,338 a year after aid ($177,352 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $85,569 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.3 years to earn back.
How much does Fordham University 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 $44,338 a year, or roughly $177,352 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 Fordham University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $85,569 ten years after enrolling, roughly $43,769 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 Fordham University?
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 6.3 years for Fordham University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Fordham University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,300, against average earnings of $53,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45. 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 Fordham University?
The six-year graduation rate is 81.9%, 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.