Students at Fordham University achieve exceptional long-term earnings that place the institution among the top 5% nationally, reflecting strong career outcomes particularly in business and finance.
Graduates consistently reach high earning levels that justify the university's premium positioning and demonstrate clear return on investment.
Fordham University delivers exceptional long-term financial outcomes, ranking in the top 5% nationally for graduate earnings among all four-year institutions. Located in the Bronx with strong ties to Manhattan's business district, this private Catholic research university combines academic rigor with direct pathways into high-paying careers in finance, business, and professional services. Graduates earn a median of $85,569 ten years after enrollment, reflecting the institution's strength in business programs and its strategic position within New York's economic ecosystem.
While Fordham maintains selective admissions and serves a more affluent student body than typical public universities, it consistently delivers on its promise of strong career outcomes. About 21% of students receive Pell Grants, and the university achieves an 80% six-year graduation rate across all income levels. The institution's "Selective Achievers" mobility profile reflects its ability to produce excellent outcomes for the students it enrolls, even as access remains more limited than at broader-access institutions.
For families who can manage the higher net prices—ranging from about $31,200 for low-income students to over $50,000 for higher-income families—Fordham offers a clear value proposition: consistent access to high-earning careers, particularly in business and finance, backed by a strong alumni network and New York City's unparalleled job market.
Fordham University's program portfolio centers on business and professional preparation, with finance and business administration forming the core of its academic strength. Banking and Financial Support Services stands out as both a high-enrollment and high-return program, graduating 180 students annually with median earnings of $73,195 ten years out. This program exemplifies Fordham's strategic positioning within New York's financial ecosystem, where alumni networks and employer relationships create direct pathways into lucrative careers.
Business Administration and Management represents Fordham's largest program with 220 graduates per year, producing solid median earnings of $55,724 that reflect the broad applicability of business skills across industries. Accounting majors achieve some of the highest early-career earnings at $71,351, benefiting from strong demand in New York's corporate sector. Even Biology, typically a lower-earning field, demonstrates Fordham's pre-professional focus and the advantages of studying in a major metropolitan area with extensive healthcare and research opportunities.
The concentration in business-related fields—representing a substantial portion of Fordham's degree output—aligns directly with the university's institutional strengths and geographic advantages. This focused approach, combined with Fordham's extensive alumni presence in finance, consulting, and professional services, helps explain why graduates consistently achieve earnings that rank among the highest nationally for institutions of similar size and selectivity.
Fordham University graduates achieve strong long-term earnings that place the institution in the top 5% nationally. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $85,569, with many reaching well into six-figure territory as their careers progress. The university's location in New York City and strength in business-focused programs create direct pipelines into finance, consulting, and other high-mobility careers that continue to pay dividends over time.
The strongest financial outcomes come from Fordham's business programs, which dominate the university's highest-return majors. Banking and Financial Support Services graduates earn about $73,195 ten years out, while Accounting majors see median earnings around $71,351. Business Administration and Management, the university's largest program with 220 graduates annually, produces median earnings of $55,724—solid outcomes that reflect the broad applicability of business skills in New York's diverse economy. Even Biology, typically a lower-earning field, shows the impact of Fordham's pre-professional focus and alumni connections.
Fordham's business concentration—with finance, accounting, and management programs forming the core of its academic portfolio—aligns directly with New York City's economic strengths. This strategic focus, combined with the university's extensive alumni network in financial services and consulting, helps explain why graduates consistently achieve earnings that rank among the highest nationally for private universities of similar size and selectivity.
Fordham University requires a significant financial commitment, with net prices that reflect its position as a selective private institution in an expensive metropolitan area. Low-income students pay about $31,239 annually after aid, while middle-income families face costs around $38,039, and higher-income families pay approximately $50,121 per year. These figures place Fordham in the bottom 5% nationally for affordability, meaning families pay substantially more than at most other four-year institutions.
Despite the higher upfront costs, many families find the investment manageable given Fordham's strong earnings outcomes. Federal student loan debt averages $24,300 for graduates, a reasonable level considering the university's median earnings of $85,569 ten years out. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $34,178, reflecting the reality that many families contribute directly to cover the higher costs of private education in New York City.
The key to Fordham's affordability equation is the long-term payoff. While families pay more upfront than at most institutions, graduates' strong earning potential—particularly in business and finance—typically provides the financial capacity to manage debt comfortably. The university's 0% federal loan default rate and strong loan repayment patterns demonstrate that most graduates successfully transition their education investment into sustainable career earnings.
Fordham University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
