Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Fordham University #514 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $84,203, placing Fordham University in the 87.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Fordham University #127 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Fordham University's composite ranking reflects a balance of strong earnings outcomes and affordability relative to cost paid. Graduates earn about $1,806 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution among the top performers nationally for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Fordham University #514 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private research university (Carnegie R2) in the Bronx, NY, Fordham University enrolls roughly 10,512 undergraduates. Retention is 88.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 81.9%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Fordham University performs strongest in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Fordham University #127 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $84,203. They earn about $1,806 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Fordham University in the 65.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strength reflects Fordham University's concentration in Business, a field where employers recruit actively and early-career outcomes remain competitive. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Fordham University sits in the 72.5 percentile for access and the 3.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 21.4% Pell-eligible students and 17.6% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a selective admissions posture that limits the size of lower-income cohorts. Mobility outcomes sit in the 73.8 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's access constraints shape its overall composite position.
Fordham University's published cost of attendance is $82,762. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $32,474, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $31,657, middle-income families pay about $37,313, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $42,030, and higher-income families pay around $52,228. Azimuth ranks Fordham University #1378 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Fordham University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and loans. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and work-study is available as part of aid packages. The aid structure prioritizes need-based support, with merit scholarships available for select students. The difference between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to making a Fordham education accessible across income levels, though the affordability rank indicates families should carefully evaluate whether the net price aligns with their financial capacity. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,300, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,095; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Fordham University's median four-year earnings of $84,203, median federal debt of $24,300 projects to a monthly payment of about $275 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Fordham University is a strong fit for students interested in Business and related fields who want a private research university experience in NY. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $84,203, placing Fordham University in the 87.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $1,806 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Fordham University in the 65.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 21.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 17.6% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Fordham University in the 86.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 59.3% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong earnings trajectories and aid packages.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Fordham University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Fordham University's published cost of attendance is $82,762. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $32,474, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $31,657, middle-income families pay about $37,313, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $42,030, and higher-income families pay around $52,228.
Azimuth ranks Fordham University #1378 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Fordham University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and loans. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and work-study is available as part of aid packages.
The aid structure prioritizes need-based support, with merit scholarships available for select students. The difference between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to making a Fordham education accessible across income levels, though the affordability rank indicates families should carefully evaluate whether the net price aligns with their financial capacity.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,300, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,095; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Fordham University's median four-year earnings of $84,203, median federal debt of $24,300 projects to a monthly payment of about $275 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Fordham University earn median 4-year earnings of $84,203, placing Fordham University in the 87.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $95,739 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn about $1,806 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Fordham University in the 65.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Fordham University #127 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Fordham's concentration in business and professional fields. Finance is the largest program with 229 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $141,860, performing at 1.7x the national benchmark for the field.
The Business Administration program graduates 198 students earning $90,192, while Psychology, General with 164 graduates reaches $62,273. Political Science and International Business round out the top five, with 156 and 153 graduates respectively earning $74,419 and $106,665.
The concentration in Business — which represents a substantial share of Fordham's degree output — aligns with the institution's above-average earnings trajectory and contributes to its strong return-on-investment standing.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Saint Joseph's University Higher acceptance rate (30.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 93 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 86% | $86,881 | Compare |
Drexel University Higher acceptance rate (21.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 93 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 78% | $84,648 | Compare |
Iona University Higher acceptance rate (34.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 7 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 91% | $73,595 | Compare |
Loyola University Maryland Higher acceptance rate (20.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MD | 76% | $82,652 | Compare |
Stonehill College Higher acceptance rate (16.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MA | 73% | $77,745 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Syracuse University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15259 ranked) | NY | 46% | $79,164 | #15259 | Compare |
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Similar quality tier (#15267 ranked) | FL | 97% | $39,696 | #15267 | Compare |
Saint Louis University Similar quality tier (#15231 ranked) | MO | 75% | $70,783 | #15231 | Compare |
Wentworth Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15229 ranked) | MA | 91% | $82,721 | #15229 | Compare |
Loyola University Chicago Similar quality tier (#15323 ranked) | IL | 82% | $71,530 | #15323 | Compare |
Finance and Financial Management Services
229 graduates
Mathematics and Statistics, Other
50 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
93 graduates
International Business
153 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
98 graduates
Fordham University's program mix is anchored in business, finance, and professional fields — a portfolio shaped by the institution's Jesuit educational mission and location in New York City's financial and professional services hub. Finance is the largest program with 229 graduates annually, followed by Business Administration, Psychology, General, Political Science, and International Business.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 2,637 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in applied professional and business-adjacent fields. The earnings pattern reflects this concentration.
Finance leads with median earnings of $141,860 four years after enrollment, followed by International Business at $106,665, Artificial Intelligence at $97,265, Economics at $94,170, and Business Administration at $90,192. The program mix — with Business representing 28% of graduates, Social Sciences at 19%, and Arts at 7% — positions the institution as a pipeline into finance, accounting, management, and related professional careers where four-year earnings reflect direct labor-market entry.
Fordham University's positioning as a private research university in a major financial and professional services market creates substantial employer recruitment visibility. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with national labor-market demand and wage trends in finance, business administration, and related fields.
