Head-to-head comparison
William Paterson University of New Jersey vs Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus: which has better ROI?
Option A Wayne, NJ
William Paterson University of New Jersey
- Net price / year
- $18,745
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,780
- Payback
- 8 yrs
Option B Teaneck, NJ
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
- Net price / year
- $15,404
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,273
- Payback
- 6.9 yrs
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $61,616 in 6.9 years versus 8 years at William Paterson University of New Jersey, on median earnings of $57,273 vs $57,780 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | William Paterson University of New Jersey | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,745 | $15,404 |
| Total net cost | $74,980 | $61,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,780 | $57,273 |
| Median debt | $22,334 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 8 yrs | 6.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $113,420 | $116,644 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus?
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus, at $15,404 a year after aid versus $18,745 — a gap of $3,341 a year, or $13,364 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 William Paterson University of New Jersey or Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus graduates earn more?
William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates report a median $57,780 ten years after entry, $507 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, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus?
William Paterson University of New Jersey: its completers carry a median $22,334 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus, a difference of $2,666. 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?
53% of students finish at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus, against 44% at William Paterson University of New Jersey. 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.