Rider University vs Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus: which has better ROI?
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $61,616 in 6.9 years versus 7.2 years at Rider University, on median earnings of $57,273 vs $62,208 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rider University | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,792 | $15,404 |
| Total net cost | $99,168 | $61,616 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,208 | $57,273 |
| Median debt | $26,130 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 7.2 yrs | 6.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $177,792 | $116,644 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rider University or Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus?
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus, at $15,404 a year after aid versus $24,792 — a gap of $9,388 a year, or $37,552 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Rider University or Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus graduates earn more?
Rider University graduates report a median $62,208 ten years after entry, $4,935 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Rider University or Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus?
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,130 at Rider University, a difference of $1,130. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
61% of students finish at Rider 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.