Social Sciences at Fordham University

A $26,000 debt load for earnings around $35,800—figures drawn from comparable New York social sciences programs—creates a workable but hardly exciting financial picture. Fordham's estimated debt sits above the state median of $21,366, while the earnings track right at the state average. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 suggests graduates would need to dedicate roughly nine months of gross income to pay off their loans, assuming they put every dollar toward debt.

What makes this particularly uncertain is the competitive landscape. Other New York programs with reported data show CUNY Graduate School graduates earning $54,265 and even SUNY Old Westbury hitting $40,537—both significantly higher than what peer programs suggest for Fordham. Meanwhile, NYU's social sciences graduates also clock in around the state median, suggesting that even prestigious private institutions don't guarantee premium outcomes in this field.

The reality is that Fordham charges private university tuition for outcomes that, based on similar programs, appear solidly middle-of-the-pack. If your child can access CUNY or SUNY options at lower cost, the numbers favor those paths. If Fordham is the choice, understand you're likely paying for the campus experience and networking rather than measurably better earnings in those critical first years after graduation.