Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus

An associate's degree from FDU-Florham starts at $23,867—nearly $4,000 below the national median for this program and about $2,000 below New Jersey's typical outcomes. While the $12,000 debt load sits just above average, the real concern is the earnings gap: this program ranks in just the 25th percentile nationally and 40th in New Jersey, meaning three-quarters of comparable programs nationwide deliver better starting salaries. For comparison, students at Thomas Edison State or nearby community colleges like Rowan Burlington County earn $25,000-$27,000 more in their first year with similar or lower debt.

The 18% earnings growth to $28,224 by year four helps close the gap somewhat, bringing graduates closer to what others earn initially. At a school with a 95% admission rate, accessibility is clearly part of the mission. But families should weigh this carefully: community colleges in New Jersey deliver stronger outcomes for this credential at lower cost, and some (like Thomas Edison State) produce nearly double the earnings with manageable debt loads.

If your child is set on FDU's campus experience, understand you're paying a premium—both in higher debt relative to local alternatives and in foregone earnings—for a credential that underperforms state and national benchmarks. The associate's pathway works best when it's affordable and leads to solid entry-level wages. This program struggles on both counts compared to readily available alternatives across New Jersey.