Head-to-head comparison
Rowan University vs Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus: which has better ROI?
Option A Glassboro, NJ
Rowan University
- Net price / year
- $22,408
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,988
- Payback
- 7.7 yrs
Option B Madison, NJ
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
- Net price / year
- $22,829
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,273
- Payback
- 10.2 yrs
Rowan University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,632 in 7.7 years versus 10.2 years at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus, on median earnings of $59,988 vs $57,273 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rowan University | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,408 | $22,829 |
| Total net cost | $89,632 | $91,316 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,988 | $57,273 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 7.7 yrs | 10.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $142,928 | $86,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rowan University or Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus?
Rowan University, at $22,408 a year after aid versus $22,829 — a gap of $421 a year, or $1,684 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 Rowan University or Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus graduates earn more?
Rowan University graduates report a median $59,988 ten years after entry, $2,715 more than the $57,273 at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham 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, Rowan University or Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus?
Rowan University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus, a difference of $4,500. 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?
67% of students finish at Rowan University, against 67% at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham 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.