Head-to-head comparison
Fordham University vs St. Joseph's University-New York: 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 Brooklyn, NY
St. Joseph's University-New York
- Net price / year
- $19,035
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,905
- Payback
- 4.9 yrs
Fordham University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $177,352 in 4.8 years versus 4.9 years at St. Joseph's University-New York, on median earnings of $85,569 vs $63,905 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fordham University | St. Joseph's University-New York |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $44,338 | $19,035 |
| Total net cost | $177,352 | $76,140 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $85,569 | $63,905 |
| Median debt | $24,300 | $22,000 |
| Payback | 4.8 yrs | 4.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $566,828 | $234,760 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fordham University or St. Joseph's University-New York?
St. Joseph's University-New York, at $19,035 a year after aid versus $44,338 — a gap of $25,303 a year, or $101,212 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 St. Joseph's University-New York graduates earn more?
Fordham University graduates report a median $85,569 ten years after entry, $21,664 more than the $63,905 at St. Joseph's University-New York. 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 St. Joseph's University-New York?
St. Joseph's University-New York: its completers carry a median $22,000 in federal loans versus $24,300 at Fordham University, a difference of $2,300. 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 69% at St. Joseph's University-New York. 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.