Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus

Fairleigh Dickinson's nursing program graduates earn $91,523 within a year of graduation—substantially above the national median of $74,888 and landing in the 95th percentile nationally. However, the New Jersey context tells a more sobering story: these earnings place graduates at only the 60th percentile statewide, with nearby programs like Montclair State ($104,219) and Kean University ($101,039) producing notably stronger outcomes. This matters because New Jersey nursing programs generally deliver exceptional results, and this one, while solid, sits in the middle of that pack.

The debt picture is reasonable at $26,500, creating a manageable 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should be able to handle comfortably. But the modest 3% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates might be hitting their ceiling relatively quickly compared to peers at top-performing NJ schools.

The bottom line: this program will launch your child into a well-paying nursing career with manageable debt, but they'd likely see better long-term earnings at several other New Jersey nursing schools. If Fairleigh Dickinson offers significantly lower tuition or better financial aid than the higher-earning competitors, the gap might be worth it. Otherwise, programs like Montclair or Kean appear to offer better returns on investment within the same state market.