College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus

Teaneck, NJ 2,627 Undergrads 56.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$50,305
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,404
After Aid
Median Earnings
$68,049
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,404
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$68,049
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$57,273
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate56.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time81.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
90.7%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$599k
+$132k
+$114k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$543k
+$77k
+$59k
Full Cost$50k/yr
+$418k
-$49k
-$67k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
40
107%
Full Cost$50k/yr
Never
-37%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return24%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-55%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,796
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,753
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,879
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,559
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,593
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,549
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,829
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,778
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,148
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,055
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$33,749
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,798
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,969
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,958
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$84,606
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$291k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (4yr)
$53,737
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,188
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,525
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$98
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,172
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,192
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,273
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,292
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,888
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,977
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$98,585
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$292k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$35,169
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$240k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,510
Earnings (4yr)
$108,803
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,332
Earnings (4yr)
$120,131
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$387k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$42,425
Earnings (4yr)
$80,630
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,673
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,812
Earnings (4yr)
$61,820
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,997
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,149
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,856
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,294
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,309
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Median Debt
$40,432
Earnings (4yr)
$145,105
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$603k
Median Debt
$37,523
Earnings (4yr)
$67,441
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,298
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$64,376
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$118,721
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
$69,076
Earnings (4yr)
$98,429
Natl Median: $70,514
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$136,194
Natl Median: $136,115
Lifetime Value Added
+$306k
Median Debt
$198,813
Earnings (4yr)
$144,192
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$365k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.