FDU vs. DeSales University

Deciding between Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus and DeSales University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus
DeSales University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • FDU Madison, NJ
  • DeSales University Center Valley, PA
  • Setting
  • FDU Large Suburban
  • DeSales University Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • FDU 2,885
  • DeSales University 2,972
  • Type
  • FDU Private 4 Year
  • DeSales University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • FDU #391
  • DeSales University #322
  • Religious Affiliation
  • FDU -
  • DeSales University Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • FDU Non-profit
  • DeSales University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • FDU
  • DeSales University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • FDU $38,004
  • DeSales University $46,800
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • FDU $38,004
  • DeSales University $46,800
  • Room & Board
  • FDU $16,270
  • DeSales University $13,800
  • Average Net Price
  • FDU $25,585
  • DeSales University $31,732
  • Average Grant Aid
  • FDU $28,294
  • DeSales University $30,909
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • FDU 100%
  • DeSales University 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • FDU 5,652
  • DeSales University 3,977
  • Admitted
  • FDU 5,380
  • DeSales University 3,066
  • Acceptance Rate
  • FDU 95.2%
  • DeSales University 77.1%
  • Enrolled
  • FDU 10.5%
  • DeSales University 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • FDU 1180
  • DeSales University 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • FDU 24
  • DeSales University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • FDU 3.42
  • DeSales University 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • FDU B+
  • DeSales University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • FDU Difficult
  • DeSales University Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • FDU
  • DeSales University
  • ACT Range
  • FDU 19/30
  • DeSales University 27/28
  • SAT Range
  • FDU 1040/1310
  • DeSales University 1090/1260
  • Submit Test Scores
  • FDU Test optional
  • DeSales University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • FDU
  • DeSales University Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • FDU 11:1
  • DeSales University 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • FDU
    • Business (34%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • DeSales University
    • Business (29%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • FDU 55%
  • DeSales University 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • FDU $52,900
  • DeSales University $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • FDU 60%
  • DeSales University 71%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • FDU $26,000
  • DeSales University $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • FDU $268
  • DeSales University $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • FDU 43%
  • DeSales University 35%
  • % Women
  • FDU 57%
  • DeSales University 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • FDU Medium
  • DeSales University Low
  • HBCU
  • FDU No
  • DeSales University No
  • % White
  • FDU 58%
  • DeSales University 75%
  • % Asian
  • FDU 4%
  • DeSales University 2%
  • % Black
  • FDU 11%
  • DeSales University 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • FDU 16%
  • DeSales University 12%
  • % Native American
  • FDU 0%
  • DeSales University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • FDU 0%
  • DeSales University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • FDU 2%
  • DeSales University 2%
  • % International
  • FDU 0%
  • DeSales University 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • FDU 7%
  • DeSales University 6%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • FDU 86%
  • DeSales University 70%
  • % Out-of-State
  • FDU 14%
  • DeSales University 30%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • FDU Yes
  • DeSales University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • FDU No
  • DeSales University No
  • Meal Plan
  • FDU Yes
  • DeSales University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • FDU Yes
  • DeSales University Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • FDU No
  • DeSales University No

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus in Madison, NJ with DeSales University in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

DeSales University is larger than FDU based on total student enrollment (2,972 students vs. 2,885 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is located in Madison, NJ (Large Suburban setting); DeSales University is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. DeSales University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 11:1; DeSales University 12:1.

FDU vs. DeSales University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FDU or DeSales University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than DeSales University ($25,585 vs. $31,732).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at DeSales University are 15.2% lower than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus ($13,800 vs. $16,270).
  • DeSales University is 23.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than FDU (about $8,796 more per year; $46,800.00 vs. $38,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.1% higher at DeSales University than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus (about $8,796 more per year; $46,800.00 vs. $38,004.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus as at DeSales University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DeSales University students is 9.2% larger than aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus students ($30,909 vs. $28,294).

FDU vs. DeSales University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FDU or DeSales University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between DeSales University and FDU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus (1180) is the same as at DeSales University (1180).
  • Incoming DeSales University students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (27 vs. 24 at FDU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 1040/1310; DeSales University 1090/1260.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 19/30; DeSales University 27/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FDU - Test optional; DeSales University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DeSales University Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman FDU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at DeSales University (3.39).
  • FDU has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than DeSales University (77.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.5% at FDU vs. 16.7% at DeSales University.

FDU vs. DeSales University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FDU and DeSales University? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • DeSales University's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus's (55%).
  • Graduates from Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than DeSales University graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,900 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, DeSales University and FDU graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, DeSales University and FDU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($268 vs. $268).
  • More DeSales University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.