At $15,266/yr net price, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus graduates earn $57,273/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $23,273/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $15,266 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $61,064 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,273/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$23,273/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 61.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,150/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,213/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,926/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,511/yr |
| $110,001+ | $27,494/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $114,382 | $40,432 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $99,832 | $198,813 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Doctoral | $92,632 | $69,076 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $76,146 | $23,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $74,953 | $27,332 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Doctoral | $62,887 | |
| Public Administration. | Master | $61,681 | $41,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $59,690 | $25,510 |
| Computer Science. | Master | $58,673 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $56,641 | $25,000 |
The Risk Factor
61.7% of students at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 38% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Fairleigh Dickinson's Metropolitan Campus gives you a workable but modest financial return. You pay about $15,000 a year net and carry $25,000 in median debt at graduation, which median earnings of $57,273 ten years out can cover without wrecking your budget. The 61.7% graduation rate is the main risk: nearly four in ten students don't finish, and a partial degree still leaves you with the debt.
Your major decides everything here. Nursing is the clear winner at $76,146, well above the school median, and it pays for New Jersey and New York City hospital demand right outside Teaneck. Accounting and finance both land in the mid-$50,000s and put you near the New York metro financial job market. Marketing sits at the bottom of the listed programs at $47,729 while still costing the same $25,000 in debt, so the payoff there is thinner. If you're weighing nursing against marketing, that's nearly a $30,000 annual gap on identical debt.
The net price tiers split sharply by income. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $12,000 a year. Above $75,000 the price jumps to $23,511, and over $110,000 you pay $27,494 , more than double the low-income figure. Middle and upper-income families should run the full four-year cost before committing, because the sticker climbs fast once aid drops off.
This school fits you if you're heading into nursing, accounting, or finance and want access to the New York job market. If you're chasing a lower-earning major like marketing, or you're paying the top-tier price without a high-return program in mind, the math gets tight and you should compare cheaper public options in New Jersey first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus worth the cost?
FDU-Metropolitan has mixed ROI depending on your major. Nursing and pharmacy programs show strong earning potential ($76,000-$114,000), but other programs may not justify the cost given the 61.7% graduation rate.
What are the best paying majors at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus?
Nursing leads with graduates earning $76,000-$114,000 annually, followed by pharmacy at $99,832. Business administration graduates earn around $75,000, which is decent but not exceptional for the tuition cost.
How much debt do Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus students graduate with?
The median debt is $25,000, which is manageable compared to many private schools. However, with 10-year earnings averaging $57,273, debt-to-income ratios could be tight for lower-paying majors.
Does Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus have good financial aid?
The net price of $15,266 per year suggests decent financial aid for many students. This makes the school more affordable than sticker price, though outcomes still depend heavily on your chosen program.