Head-to-head comparison
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus vs Drew University: which has better ROI?
Option A Teaneck, NJ
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
- Net price / year
- $15,404
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,273
- Payback
- 6.9 yrs
Option B Madison, NJ
Drew University
- Net price / year
- $24,280
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,646
- Payback
- 6.4 yrs
Drew University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,120 in 6.4 years versus 6.9 years at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus, on median earnings of $63,646 vs $57,273 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | Drew University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,404 | $24,280 |
| Total net cost | $61,616 | $97,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,273 | $63,646 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,288 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 6.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $116,644 | $208,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus or Drew University?
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus, at $15,404 a year after aid versus $24,280 — a gap of $8,876 a year, or $35,504 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus or Drew University graduates earn more?
Drew University graduates report a median $63,646 ten years after entry, $6,373 more than the $57,273 at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus or Drew University?
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $25,288 at Drew University, a difference of $288. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Drew University, against 53% at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.