Head-to-head comparison
Fordham University vs Monroe University: which has better ROI?
Option A Bronx, NY
Fordham University
- Net price / year
- $44,338
- Earnings, 10 years
- $85,569
- Payback
- 4.8 yrs
Option B Bronx, NY
Monroe University
- Net price / year
- $14,522
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,236
- Payback
- No payback
Fordham University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $177,352 in 4.8 years versus not at all at Monroe University, on median earnings of $85,569 vs $41,236 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fordham University | Monroe University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $44,338 | $14,522 |
| Total net cost | $177,352 | $29,044 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $85,569 | $41,236 |
| Median debt | $24,300 | $18,818 |
| Payback | 4.8 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $566,828 | -$171,524 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fordham University or Monroe University?
Monroe University, at $14,522 a year after aid versus $44,338 — a gap of $29,816 a year, or $148,308 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 Fordham University or Monroe University graduates earn more?
Fordham University graduates report a median $85,569 ten years after entry, $44,333 more than the $41,236 at Monroe University. 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, Fordham University or Monroe University?
Monroe University: its completers carry a median $18,818 in federal loans versus $24,300 at Fordham University, a difference of $5,482. 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?
82% of students finish at Fordham University, against 57% at Monroe University. 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.