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CollegeRanker
Colleges / NY / Bronx
Private nonprofit Bronx, NY · Urban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A+ Earnings A Social Mobility A- Graduation
81%
A-
Graduation Rate
Most students who enroll finish their degree here
$85,569
A+
Earnings (10yr)
Top 3% nationally — exceptional earning power
$44,338
F
Net Price
159% more than the typical college
59%
B
Acceptance Rate
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +110% vs avg
Graduation +42% vs avg
Net Price 159% vs avg
Mobility Top 4%

Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 13.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.0 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best MBA Programs for General Management.

13.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,123,307.

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What The Data Says

1

A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

2

Graduates earn 110% more than the national college median.

3

A 81% graduation rate — 42% above the national average.

4

A top feeder school for 8 major employers.

5

Social mobility rate of 3.98% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

Economic Footprint

0.2%
Inventor Rate
Top 74%
14
Patents
Linked to graduates
8
Employer Pipelines
Top feeder programs
118
Patent Citations
Downstream influence

Why Fordham University Matters

Fordham University is a private research university in Bronx, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 3% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Research University
Carnegie Class
R2 · High Research
Enrollment
10,512
Setting
Urban
Designations
30
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Psychology

Why students choose Fordham University

Research-intensive environment
Active labs and research-active faculty
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 3% of colleges
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B-
Top 32% overall
A+
Earnings
$85,569 median
D+
Value
1.9× net price
F
Affordability
$44,338/yr net
A-
Graduation
81% graduate
A
Social Mobility
4.0% climb Q1→Q5
B
Selectivity
59% admit rate
A-
Diversity
0.73 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of over 10,500 students, Fordham University in the Bronx, NY, caters to those who are serious about their education and looking for a vibrant campus life. The acceptance rate of 59% suggests that while it's competitive, many students have the chance to join a community that values diverse perspectives. Popular areas of study include Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Psychology, and Communications, making it an attractive choice for students pursuing both practical and theoretical knowledge.

After graduation, alumni can expect to earn an average of $85,569 within ten years, which reflects the solid grounding they receive in their respective fields. While the details on mobility and economic connectedness aren’t available, it’s clear that a Fordham degree can open doors for many students. The affordability aspect is also worth noting, as it allows for a good return on investment, especially when considering the earnings potential.

The net price after aid stands at $44,338, and with a median debt of $24,300, many graduates find themselves in a manageable financial situation as they start their careers. Students who thrive here tend to be those who actively engage with the community, seek out internships, and take advantage of networking opportunities. Fordham’s supportive environment encourages personal and professional growth, making it a solid choice for those ready to invest in their future.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective Fordham University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Fordham University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Bronx, New York, Fordham University admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 59%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,418. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 81%.

Acceptance Rate 59%
Retention Rate 89%
SAT Average 1418
ACT Midpoint 32
SAT Range 1320–1480
ACT Range 30–33
Full-Time Faculty 100%
Faculty Salary (mo) $16,236
Student–Faculty Ratio 14:1
Diversity Index 0.73
First-Gen Students 18%
Applicants 47,203
Admitted 25,550
2

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fordham University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending Fordham University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $64,915 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $44,338 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $32,474 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,300.

$64,915
In-State Tuition
$64,915
Out-of-State
$44,338
Avg Net Price
$24,300
Median Debt
21%
Pell Grant Rate
47%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$32,474
Family Income $0–$30K
$31,657
Family Income $30K–$48K
$37,313
Family Income $48K–$75K
$52,228
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Fordham University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Fordham University earn a median of $85,569 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.

$68,008
6 Years After Entry
$75,002
8 Years
$85,569
10 Years
0.28x
Debt-to-Earnings
79%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$68,008 6yr $75,002 8yr $85,569 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

79%
100% (1,750)
79%
100% (1,750)
79%
100% (1,750)
79%
100% (1,750)

Where Grads Go

Top employers of Fordham University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.

How Fordham Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation81%Earnings 10yr$86KNet Price$44KRetention89%Median Debt$24KPell Grant Rate21%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$32K$0-30K$32K$30-48K$37K$48-75K$52K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%7.6%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%52.1%MOBILITY3.98%

College ROI Calculator

Is Fordham University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Fordham University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $44,338/year ($177,352 total). Graduates earn $85,569 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,300,659 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,123,307 (13.0× your investment). The median debt is $24,300, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 81% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$177,352
Total Cost (4yr)
$2,300,659
Projected 20yr Earnings
$2,123,307
Net Return
13.0×
ROI Multiple
$44,338
Cost Per Year
$24,300
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
81%
Graduation Rate
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Fordham University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Fordham University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 3.98%, among the highest in the country. About 7.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $113,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

3.98%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
52.1%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
7.6%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$113,300
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Fordham University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Fordham University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.85 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.85
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
0.01
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
8.8%
Volunteering Rate
0.99
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Fordham University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 14 patents tied to its graduates.

0.21%
Inventor Rate
Top 74% nationally
14
Patents Produced
Linked to graduates
118
Patent Citations
Downstream influence

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
Federal Grants
$-54,221,000
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Fordham University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Fordham University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

As a private institution in Bronx, New York, Fordham University admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 59%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,418. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 81%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fordham University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Fordham University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $64,915 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $44,338 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $32,474 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,300.

Is Fordham University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Fordham University earn a median of $85,569 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.

Does Fordham University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

Fordham University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 3.98%, among the highest in the country. About 7.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $113,300, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Fordham University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Fordham University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.85 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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