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Private nonprofit · 4-year

Fordham University

Bronx, New York

50
C
DR Rating
DegreeReturn Rating — Fair value

A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.

Strong return
+$158,403 over 10 years

Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.

Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.

5.4 yrs
Break-even
+85%
10-year ROI
$79,461
Median earnings as of 2024
83% of Fordham University students earn more than a typical U.S. high-school graduate (about $28,000/yr) ten years after starting — measured from IRS tax records, not surveys.

The numbers behind the verdict

$44,338
Average net price / yr as of 2024
$79,461
Median earnings (5 yr) as of 2024
$51,681
Median earnings (1 yr) as of 2024
$24,300
Median debt at graduation as of 2024
82%
Graduation rate as of 2024
83%
Earn more than a HS grad as of 2024
83%
Repaying their loans (3 yr) as of 2024
89%
Retention rate as of 2024

Lifetime ROI: the long view

Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.

$158,403
After 10 years
$503,013
After 20 years
$847,623
After 30 years
$1,192,233
After 40 years

Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.

Equity & access

Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.

By gender
Women
$82,481
Men
$89,246

8% gap between the two groups

By family-income background
From lower-income families
$76,984
From higher-income families
$88,624

13% gap between the two groups

By student status (FAFSA)
Dependent students
$86,540
Independent students
$82,189

5% gap between the two groups

18%
First-generation students
47%
Take federal student loans
78%
Born in the U.S.
Who studies here
White 44%Hispanic 21%Asian 14%Black 7%Other 15%

Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.

Net price by family income

What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.

Family incomeAverage net price / yr
Family income $0–$30k$32,474
$30k–$48k$31,657
$48k–$75k$37,313
$75k–$110k$42,030
$110k+$52,228

How Fordham University compares

This college against the New York and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.

Graduate earnings over time

Median earnings of Fordham University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.

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Best-paying majors at Fordham University

Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.

MajorCredentialEarnings (5 yr)Median debt10-yr ROIVerdict
Finance and Financial Management ServicesAssociate's$133,923$26,870+803%Strong return
Finance and Financial Management ServicesCertificate$201,439+782%Strong return
LawDoctoral$204,090$147,561+588%Strong return
Accounting and Related ServicesAssociate's$106,654$23,000+535%Strong return
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCertificate$162,904$50,293+503%Strong return
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing OperationsAssociate's$96,059+476%Strong return
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralAssociate's$98,888$26,424+448%Strong return
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyMaster's$106,702$83,264+418%Strong return
PhilosophyAssociate's$93,875$20,500+408%Strong return
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAssociate's$92,488$25,000+386%Strong return
EconomicsAssociate's$90,012$23,250+363%Strong return
Accounting and Related ServicesCertificate$128,727$37,000+339%Strong return
TaxationCertificate$124,228$20,500+329%Strong return
MathematicsAssociate's$86,926$27,000+326%Strong return
Religion/Religious StudiesAssociate's$85,741$25,247+316%Strong return
EconomicsCertificate$115,581+298%Strong return
Educational Administration and SupervisionCertificate$116,124$21,199+284%Strong return
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralCertificate$112,394+280%Strong return
Biology, GeneralAssociate's$79,720$26,000+254%Strong return
Political Science and GovernmentAssociate's$77,828$23,250+238%Strong return
International Relations and National Security StudiesAssociate's$75,033$24,759+207%Strong return
Urban Studies/AffairsAssociate's$71,957+204%Strong return
Area StudiesAssociate's$74,201$26,000+198%Strong return
Communication and Media StudiesAssociate's$72,537$24,615+182%Strong return
HistoryAssociate's$71,979$26,000+175%Strong return

Calculate your own ROI

Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.

ROI at Fordham University

Or pick your to set cost

Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.

10-yr net gain
Break-even
10-yr ROI

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Admissions & profile

59%
Admission rate
1,418
Average SAT
32
Median ACT
10,512
Undergraduates

Location

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.

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