2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus

Open-data reference.

We found 4 schools structurally similar to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus that cost less. 4 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus

Madison, New Jersey · Private Nonprofit

$22,829
Net Price
$57,273
Median Earnings (10yr)
95.2%
Acceptance Rate
69.7%
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus

Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus posts an average net price of $22,829 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 4 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $10,510, achieved by University of Washington-Bothell Campus at $12,319. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 4 of the 4 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus’s $57,273, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $79,600.

The similarity scoring treats enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector as high-weight features because those structural attributes correlate most strongly with student experience and post-graduation outcomes in the College Scorecard literature. Admission rate and graduation rate enter as secondary features, while net price drives the cost-ranking that determines which institutions appear. Net price is an IPEDS-reported figure calculated as the average cost of attendance minus institutional and federal grants for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving Title IV aid — so it already accounts for the aid a typical admitted student would receive. That makes it a more honest cost comparison than sticker-price tuition alone.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

4
Alternatives Found
$10,510
Max Savings
4
Better Value Options
47%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 4 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Top 4 1. University of Washington-Bot $78k 2. Colorado State University Gl $77k 3. San Jose State University $79k 4. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Un $84k Compared to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus: $57k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · 2024 (latest release) Median 10-year earnings reflect federal-aid recipients only; net price reflects sticker price minus average grants/scholarships.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Bothell, WA · Public Better Value
$12,319 -$10,510 $78,466 66.8% 47%
Colorado State University Global
Denver, CO · Public Better Value
$16,510 -$6,319 $76,813 N/A 46%
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA · Public Better Value
$13,760 -$9,069 $78,988 66.8% 41%
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide
Daytona Beach, FL · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$18,725 -$4,104 $84,131 21.1% 40%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, graduate earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus?
We found 4 schools similar to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus that cost less. The closest match is University of Washington-Bothell Campus with 47% similarity and a net price of $12,319.
What is the ROI of attending Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus?
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus has an average net price of $22,829. Graduates earn a median of $57,273 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 2.5x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus for less money?
Yes — 4 of 4 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. University of Washington-Bothell Campus costs $12,319 (saving $10,510) with median earnings of $78,466.
What is the cheapest alternative to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus?
The most affordable similar school is University of Washington-Bothell Campus at $12,319, saving $10,510 compared to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus. It has a 47% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 4 alternatives have an average median earnings of $79,600 compared to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus's $57,273. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary — check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.