Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus Acceptance Rate, Admissions & Graduation

I am not going to tell you whether it is “the right one” for your child. An article cannot decide that. Your child, your family, and what you can afford will decide it. But I can clearly give you one of the three pieces you need to put that plan together: who this university is, what it offers, how much it costs, and what has happened to the students who have already attended. Let’s begin.

Who This University Is

Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus is in Madison, New Jersey, within Morris County, in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area. That does not mean it is in the heart of New York: its census code places it in a suburb, within the urbanized area but outside the principal city. If your child were considering living at home and commuting every day, I recommend driving the route on a weekday at the exact time of their classes. GPS never tells the whole truth about actual traffic.

It is a private, nonprofit institution offering programs of four years or more. IPEDS—the federal system that collects these data—classifies it as a degree-granting institution, primarily offering bachelor’s degrees or higher, and records the doctoral degree as the highest level it reports offering. That is an institutional fact; it does not tell you whether the program your child is interested in goes up to that level. That must be asked program by program.

Carnegie, the system that classifies the nation’s universities by what they do, describes it as a master’s university with larger programs, medium-sized and highly residential: at least half of degree-seeking undergraduate students live in housing owned, controlled, or affiliated with the institution, and at least 80 out of every 100 attend full time. Keep something important in mind: living on campus is not the same as paying tuition. Room and board are almost never included in the same brochure as tuition. Request that price separately, including the meal plan, before comparing this school with any other one on your list.

In its undergraduate profile, Carnegie places it in the “inclusive” category, which brings together two types of schools: those that did not report admission scores and those that did report them and showed broad access. The data as published do not distinguish which of the two applies here.

And one clarification worth keeping in mind: Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus is not registered as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. These are three distinct designations with different histories, and among the 3,012 universities in this national directory, 138 have at least one of the three. Not appearing on that list says nothing about which communities it serves today or how your child would feel there. Ask directly: what cultural centers exist, what student organizations are available, and, better yet, speak with someone who already attends.

A Community Where Being Latino Is Not the Exception

Here is a number worth stopping to read twice: 26 out of every 100 undergraduate students at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino. That is one in four, or more.

And this is not just any number. Among the 941 private, four-year schools with selective admission included in this census that reported this figure, Fairleigh Dickinson is among those reporting the highest shares. Nine out of ten of those schools reported an equal or lower proportion. Put another way: on this campus, being Latino would not be the exception.

But I want to be honest with you about what this number does and does not say. A high percentage of Latino students is not the same as support for Latino students. This figure counts how many there are, not whether there is a Spanish-speaking counselor, whether targeted tutoring is available, or whether those students complete their programs at higher or lower rates. And it is the percentage for the entire school, not for the specific program your child is interested in.

The rest of the picture: the undergraduate population is divided almost evenly between men and women, with women accounting for 54 out of every 100. There are very few adult students—only 3 out of every 100 are between 25 and 64 years old—and most entering students, 85 out of every 100, had a permanent address in the same state as the university.

As for size: official fall enrollment was 2,778, making it medium-sized compared with its peers. But that total combines an undergraduate enrollment of 1,997 with a graduate enrollment of 781. If your child is entering a bachelor’s program, the number that matters is 1,997, not the total.

How the Academic Year Is Organized

The calendar follows semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. Fairleigh Dickinson reported accepting prior credit through two routes: AP exams and what IPEDS calls “credit for life experiences”—independent study, work experience, portfolios, prior licenses or certifications, and military training as well.

Here is a hard truth you should hear before making optimistic calculations: reporting that it accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam. The report does not say what score is required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits count toward your child’s specific program. Request a written transfer-credit evaluation before enrolling. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.

A minor but useful fact: the institution does not enroll high school students in college courses for credit, so if you were hoping to use that route, it is not available here.

As for the credentials awarded: in a recent year, Fairleigh Dickinson awarded 503 bachelor’s degrees across 17 fields of study. Business and management was the largest, accounting for 24 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year—no other area exceeded it, but it does not account for the overwhelming majority either. The offerings are distributed rather than concentrated in a single area. This figure counts degrees awarded, not people or programs in the current catalog, so before deciding, ask directly about the program your child is interested in: how many students graduated from it, how long they took, and what the curriculum is like.

The student-to-instructional-staff ratio is 11 to 1, a low figure compared with similar schools. It is an aggregate ratio, not the actual size of a classroom: by itself, it does not demonstrate that more individual attention is available to each student, and the file does not show the size of first-year classes.

Academic Pathways the Institution Reports Offering

Fairleigh Dickinson reports offering these structured opportunities: study abroad, a complete program that can be taken only during evenings or weekends, noncredit developmental education, teacher-certification preparation below the postsecondary level, and state approval of its program for initial teacher certification. These components appear in the official report; how they work in practice—availability, requirements, and quality—is something to ask the university directly.

Getting In: What the Application Requires and What the Numbers Show

Let’s turn to the part that probably interests you most: how difficult it is to get in and what they require.

Fairleigh Dickinson does not have open admission. It reviews several components before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marked four as required: the high school record, high school GPA, completion of the college-preparatory curriculum required by the university, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. Other components are not required but are considered if submitted: the personal essay, letters of recommendation, and work experience.

If your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, ask now whether the English-proficiency exam applies and what would qualify them for an exemption. This is the kind of thing people discover late, making everything more complicated.

The published application fee is $50.

Now for the actual selectivity figures. In the most recently reported cycle, Fairleigh Dickinson received 4,457 first-time applications and offered admission to 4,246 applicants. That is 95 out of every 100 applicants accepted. Among the 942 private, four-year schools with selective admission in this census, it is among those accepting the largest shares: nine out of ten schools in that group accepted an equal or lower percentage.

Put plainly: this school almost always admits applicants. Your child’s energy is better spent completing the application carefully and meeting the deadlines than worrying about competing for a spot.

But here is a hard truth I cannot soften: being easy to enter does not mean it is inexpensive or that most students finish. Before deciding, you need to look at the net price and graduation rate—those two calculations carry more weight than admission, and we will examine them later.

There is another surprising number that deserves a clear explanation: out of every 100 students Fairleigh Dickinson admitted, only 12 enrolled. In other words, out of every 8 admitted students, about one ultimately attended. The other 88 had a place but did not take it. Do not read that as a stain on the school: the federal record does not say why each person made that choice. What others decided does not tell you what the school will offer you. Wait for your own letter showing the net price—that is information about your situation, not anyone else’s.

Regarding standardized tests: the SAT and ACT are not required here. If your child submits them, they will be considered; if not, the application remains valid. In practice, almost no one submits them: only 1 out of every 100 enrolled students submitted SAT scores.

And regarding transfers: of the cohort that entered in 2017 seeking a bachelor’s degree, 17 out of every 100 transferred to another institution without completing here. Changing schools is not failing. But it is helpful for your child to know in advance how to request the documents needed to transfer, just in case. Separately, in fall 2023, 96 students arrived who were entering this institution for the first time after studying at another institution.

The List Price, Broken Down

Here is the big number, the one that frightens most families the first time they see it: for the 2023–24 year, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus reported a total cost of attendance of $58,514 for first-time, full-time undergraduate students living on campus. This budget is the same regardless of the state you come from.

Here is the breakdown so you can see where every dollar goes:

Compared with the other 888 schools of the same type, this list price falls above the midpoint of the group.

Now, something I want to make very clear: this number is the list price, not your family’s bill. It is what the school uses to calculate aid, not what you will necessarily pay. Complete the FAFSA, request the financial-aid letter in writing, and until you have it in hand, you do not know how much this school will cost your family.

The Real Price: What Families End Up Paying

At Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus, among 88 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $13,308. Among 43 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $24,146; among 119 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $33,996. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.

There is a difference of $20,688 between the average for the lowest-income band (88 students) and the average for the highest-income band (119 students). These are group averages, not a prediction of your family’s price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $26,472.

Among the 937 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this figure with the same time coverage, this school falls in the least expensive quarter for lower-income families after grants and scholarships are subtracted. That does not mean it will be inexpensive for your family. It is a fact worth considering when you build the list of schools to which you will apply.

Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours comes first. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The financial-aid letter you receive is what governs your situation.

Scholarships, Pell, and Loans: How This Is Paid for in Practice

Here there is some news that may offer a little relief: 96 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received some form of grant or scholarship aid that does not have to be repaid. Receiving something is common here, not the exception. Among those who received it, the average for the year was $30,381.

But be careful with that average: it is not your offer. That figure includes students who received much more and students who received much less. It is real money, but it is not a guaranteed price. Once again, what matters is the amount left after aid—and you know that only when you receive your own letter.

Out of every 100 degree-seeking students, 36 received a Pell Grant, the federal aid intended for low-income families.

Regarding loans: in the 2022-23 school year, 57 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan, averaging $6,420 per student that year. Financing through debt is common here. If your child borrowed a similar amount each year during the four years of the degree program, the total would be around $25,680, not including interest. That number is decided before the first signature, not at the end.

And an important clarification: that average covers only one year and only federal loans in the student’s name. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes end up signing for, private bank debt, or credit-card debt. Nor is it the total debt with which someone graduates—to determine that, the four years would need to be added together, and that specific figure is not in this report.

The institution also reports offering a tuition installment-payment plan as an additional mechanism for managing the cost.

Housing, Sports, and Campus Life

Fairleigh Dickinson does have institution-owned housing and meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies according to the plan you choose. No first-time, full-time student is universally required to live on campus, although that does not rule out a requirement for a specific program. IPEDS reports a maximum institutional housing capacity of 1,570 students. The existence of a room does not guarantee an available bed in the year your child needs it: request the current rate, application deadline, and whether a space is guaranteed or there is a waiting list in writing.

Regarding ROTC: the university reports opportunities in two branches, Army and Air Force. Navy is not marked. Its appearance in the report does not mean it is necessarily offered on this campus—ask directly before building a plan around it.

In sports, the university is affiliated with the NCAA, with membership reported for football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. The specific question about active participation in intercollegiate competition does not apply in the federal record, so if sports are important to your child, request the current schedule and contact the coach directly.

As for instructional mode: 1 out of every 100 undergraduate students took all their classes through distance education; the other 99 took at least one class in person. The university reports offering at least one complete distance-education program, although the data do not confirm the specific level. Confirm the particular program and level if this interests your family.

The library operates with paid staff, and its annual expenditures exceeded the $100,000 threshold recorded by the government; it has physical and digital materials and participates in interlibrary lending. Exceeding that threshold does not guarantee that it offers databases specific to your child’s program—ask by program name.

Finally, the institution reports combined academic and career counseling, employment services for students, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military families, a student veterans’ organization, and a published web address for disability services.

What Happens to Students Who Have Already Enrolled

This may be the most important section of all because this is where the data stop talking about promises and begin talking about actual outcomes.

Retention. Of the cohort that entered in fall 2022 seeking a bachelor’s degree on a full-time basis, 77 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had completed their degree one year later. Compared with similar schools, this falls slightly above the group’s midpoint. Two things this number does not distinguish: it does not separate students who are still studying from those who have already graduated, and not returning is not the same as leaving school altogether—someone who transferred and continues studying elsewhere is counted the same as someone who stopped studying.

Graduation within six years. Of the cohort that began in 2017—an enrollment of 805 first-time, full-time students—582 had earned their degrees six years later. That is 72 out of every 100. With a four-year timeframe, the figure drops to 64 out of every 100—a difference of 8 points between allowing four years and allowing six. Compared with similar schools, Fairleigh Dickinson falls in the top quarter: three out of four similar schools reported an equal or lower proportion of graduates.

It is worth reviewing the full breakdown for that same cohort of 805: 582 graduated here, 137 transferred to another institution without completing at Fairleigh Dickinson, 12 remained enrolled without having completed, and 74 fell into the federal “no longer enrolled” category—which does not explain the reason and may include people who graduated after the measured timeframe.

A high figure such as 72 out of every 100 is not a promise for your child. It is what happened to the cohort that entered in 2017. What is within your control is ensuring that your child enters with their credits in order and knows, from the first semester, who their advisor is and when to register for the courses required by their program.

Within eight years. Expanding the window to eight years, with a cohort that includes full-time and part-time students, 64 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this institution. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was 60 out of every 100—6 points below the group that did not receive Pell. Compared with similar schools, this falls above the group’s median. The remaining 9 out of every 100 have an “unknown” enrollment status as of the measurement cutoff, which does not mean they stopped studying, only that the report was unable to determine their status.

What This Article Cannot Tell You

This is where the data this article can support end. There is no authorized information about what a Fairleigh Dickinson graduate earns after leaving, their employment, or the total debt they have upon graduation. Those are legitimate and worthwhile questions, but they belong to another source and another conversation.

Putting the Pieces Together

You now have an in-depth understanding of one of the three pieces you need to decide: who Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus is, what it requires for admission, how much it truly costs based on your family’s income, and what has happened to those who have already attended.

The other two pieces are not found in any federal report. One is what your child wants to study, what they have built so far, and how far they are willing to live from home.

None of the three pieces decides anything alone. Together, they form a plan. And although a plan does not eliminate uncertainty, it does allow you to move forward knowing exactly where you stand and what questions you still need to ask.

Source note: the information in this article comes from data reported by the institution to the United States Department of Education’s IPEDS system, corresponding primarily to the periods 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, as indicated in each section. Best College Aid does not represent Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus or any government agency; this article organizes and explains public data for informational purposes.