Rutgers vs. Fordham

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Fordham University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Fordham University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Fordham Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Fordham #133
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Fordham

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Fordham $35,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Fordham 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Fordham 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Fordham 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Fordham A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Fordham Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Fordham 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Fordham 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Fordham 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Fordham $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Fordham 39%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Fordham 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Fordham High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Fordham No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Fordham 59%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Fordham 10%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Fordham 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Fordham 14%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Fordham 3%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Fordham 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Fordham 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Fordham 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Fordham 51%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Fordham Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Rutgers No
  • Fordham No
  • Meal Plan
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Fordham Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Fordham Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Fordham No

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Fordham University in Bronx, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Fordham based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 16,150 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Fordham University is in Bronx, NY (Large City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Fordham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Fordham University 14:1.

Rutgers vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Fordham? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Fordham ($20,522 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 34.8% lower than at Fordham University ($15,714 vs. $24,090).
  • Fordham University is 262.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $46,986 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.4% higher at Fordham than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $27,474 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (95% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fordham University students is 115% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($35,988 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Fordham Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers or Fordham? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Fordham and Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 10 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming Fordham students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Fordham University 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Fordham University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Fordham - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Fordham Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Fordham students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 9.7% at Fordham.

Rutgers vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and Fordham? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Fordham University's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $3,785 lower median loan debt than Fordham graduates ($22,215 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fordham graduates ($229 vs. $268).
  • More Fordham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.