Fordham University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Bronx, New York. It enrolls 10,512 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes87
Value17
Affordability12
Selectivity84
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 59.3%, Fordham University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
59.3%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1320 – 1480
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
30 – 33
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Fordham University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
10.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Fordham University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $44,338 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$44,338
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
47%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$64,915
Room & Board (on-campus)
$24,090
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,300
Books & Supplies
$1,590
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,520
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,485
Total Cost of Attendance
$82,762
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$32,474
$30,001 – $48,000
$31,657
$48,001 – $75,000
$37,313
$75,001 – $110,000
$42,030
Over $110,000
$52,228
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$11,45025%percentile
$24,300Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$32,23090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,112
↓ $5,188
No Pell $21,500
↓ $2,800
Dependent students $20,500
↓ $3,800
Independent students $15,688
↓ $8,612
Female students $21,000
↓ $3,300
Male students $19,500
↓ $4,800
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($24,300), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
78% of full-time students who enrolled at Fordham University graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
78%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
88%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Fordham University earn a median of $85,569 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$85,569
Earning > $25K
88%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$62,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$75,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$59,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$63,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$71,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,000, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Fordham University is home to 10,512 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
10,512
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
18%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 43.9%4,618
Hispanic 21.2%2,232
Asian 13.5%1,415
International 7.6%799
Black 6.7%705
Other 5.2%546
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Fordham University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityBronx, New York
Housing
Mostly residential4,759 beds on campus
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Fordham University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
126 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fordham University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.6B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$139,896
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
553 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
241
44%
$190,345
Associate Professors
187
34%
$135,098
Assistant Professors
111
20%
$114,326
Lecturers
14
3%
$76,706
Pros & Cons of Fordham University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Fordham University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Fordham University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fordham University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Fordham University.
Is Fordham University hard to get into?
Admissions at Fordham University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 59.3%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Fordham University?
Fordham University has an acceptance rate of 59.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Fordham University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fordham University scored between 1320 and 1480 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Fordham University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fordham University scored between 30 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Fordham University cost?
The average net price after aid at Fordham University is $44,338 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Fordham University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $85,569 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $44,338 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Fordham University known for?
Fordham University is best known for its programs in Social Work, Law, Management Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Fordham University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Fordham University are $85,569, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Fordham University accredited?
Yes. Fordham University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Fordham University?
Fordham University enrolls 10,512 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Fordham University?
Fordham University graduates 78% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Fordham University a public or private college?
Fordham University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Fordham University located?
Fordham University is located in Bronx, New York.
What programs does Fordham University offer?
Fordham University offers 126 distinct programs. The most popular include Social Work, Law, Management Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Fordham University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fordham University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature Fordham University
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