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

Earning less than $24,000 a year after completing an associate's degree at a private university should prompt serious questions about value. Fairleigh Dickinson's Liberal Arts associate's program lands graduates in the bottom quarter nationally and below the New Jersey median, making roughly $1,700 less than the typical state graduate in this field. This is particularly concerning given that community colleges across New Jersey—with their significantly lower tuition—consistently outperform this program, some by more than $4,000 annually.

The debt load of $12,000 is manageable on paper, but when placed against earnings barely above minimum wage, it creates real repayment challenges. While earnings do improve to $28,224 by year four, that's still below where graduates of similar programs start elsewhere. The 96% admission rate suggests this is an access-focused institution, yet community colleges appear to deliver better outcomes for students pursuing this credential.

For an associate's degree in general studies, community colleges in New Jersey offer both lower costs and stronger employment outcomes. Unless there are compelling personal circumstances keeping a student at FDU specifically, this represents an expensive path to below-average earnings in a field where more affordable alternatives consistently perform better.