Real Estate at Fordham University

A debt load of roughly $20,500 for a bachelor's degree in real estate positions Fordham graduates reasonably well, particularly when peer programs in New York suggest first-year earnings around $59,400. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 means graduates would owe about a third of their first-year salary—manageable by most standards. For context, New York's real estate programs show considerable variation, with NYU graduates earning $75,000 out of the gate while Baruch graduates start closer to $43,000. Fordham appears to land squarely in the middle of this range.

The real estate major is relatively uncommon—only 70 schools nationwide offer it—which could work in graduates' favor when competing for entry-level positions. New York City's robust real estate market provides natural advantages for Fordham students, though breaking into commercial real estate or investment firms often depends heavily on internships and networking during school. The estimated debt here is slightly below both the national and state medians for real estate programs, which suggests Fordham isn't loading students with excessive borrowing for this particular major.

For parents weighing this investment, the fundamentals look sound: moderate debt paired with earnings that should allow for comfortable repayment. The bigger question is whether your student can leverage Fordham's New York location and alumni network to land in the higher-earning segments of the real estate industry rather than settling for property management roles at the lower end of the salary spectrum.