Fairleigh Dickinson University Scholarships (2026–2027)
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Last Updated on October 4, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~93%
- Middle 50% ACT: N/A
- Middle 50% SAT: N/A
- Average GPA: 3.6
Back in 2021, FDU did something most private colleges won’t: it cut its sticker price. Base tuition dropped from roughly $46,000 to $32,000, and it sits at $38,600 for 2026-2027. That means FDU’s merit awards look smaller than what you see at schools that start at $60,000 and then “discount” you. Don’t compare scholarship sizes. Compare what you actually pay after aid.
FDU is also really two schools at one price: the Florham Campus in Madison (a former Vanderbilt family estate, smaller and more residential) and the Metropolitan Campus in Teaneck, about six miles from Manhattan. Tuition is identical at both.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
📌 Fairleigh Dickinson University at a Glance
- Merit is based on GPA, not test scores. FDU awards up to $22,000 a year based on high school GPA. Sending a great SAT won’t move the number, so don’t pay for extra test dates chasing FDU money.
- New Jersey families have an earlier FAFSA date than they think. FDU’s general FAFSA target is April 15, but FDU’s own NJ aid page says state grants need the FAFSA by February 15. That’s where TAG (worth up to $14,404 last year) lives.
- Getting admitted isn’t the finish line. Many donor and department scholarships run through FDU’s AwardSpring portal and only show up after your student logs in and answers extra questions.
- Honors comes with zero scholarship dollars, on purpose. FDU keeps Honors and money separate so nobody loses aid if they leave the program.
- Athletic money is a Teaneck thing. Division I scholarships are at the Metropolitan Campus. Florham teams play Division III, which doesn’t give athletic scholarships.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Fairleigh Dickinson University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.
Average net price? About $19,841/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
FDU Advantage page: https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/undergraduate/advantage/
FDU Undergraduate Scholarships page: https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/fdu-scholarships/undergraduate-scholarships/
Francis J. and Gail Williams Mertz Scholarship page: https://www.fdu.edu/mertz-scholarship/
FDU Grants page: https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/undergraduate/fdu-grants/
Peter & Sylvia Sammartino Scholarship page: https://www.fdu.edu/sammartino-scholarship/
FDU EOF page: https://www.fdu.edu/about/university-leadership-offices/eof/
FDU Financial Information for Veterans page: https://www.fdu.edu/veterans/resources/financial-information/
FDU Travel Grants and Scholarships page: https://www.fdu.edu/academics/study-abroad/travel-grants-scholarships/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
💰 Cost of Attendance at Fairleigh Dickinson University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Fairleigh Dickinson University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,100 to $2,800 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
| Tuition & mandatory fees | $39,820 |
| Housing & meals (typical) | $17,094 |
| Total billed cost | $56,914 |
Average federal net price: $19,841 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
FDU is private, so there’s no out-of-state surcharge. A student from Pennsylvania pays the same $38,600 tuition as a student from Newark, and Florham costs the same as Teaneck. The real difference for out-of-state families is state aid: New Jersey residents can stack NJ TAG, EOF, and FDU Advantage on top of FDU’s own money, and out-of-state students can’t.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Fairleigh Dickinson University
Is tuition different at Florham and Metropolitan?
No. Both campuses charge $38,600 in tuition for 2026-2027, plus a $1,080 technology fee and a $140 wellness fee. FDU even uses the same housing and meal estimates for both campuses in its official cost sheet.
Why does FDU’s own cost estimate come out higher than the table above?
FDU’s full on-campus estimate is $62,888 because it also counts books ($1,290), transportation, personal expenses, and a one-time $900 new student fee. The table above shows only what FDU bills every year: tuition, fees, housing, and meals. Health insurance ($1,934) is also billed but can be waived if your student is on your plan.
Why does the average net price vary so much by campus?
The federal government tracks FDU’s two campuses separately. Recent federal figures put Metropolitan around $17,000 a year after grants and Florham closer to $25,000. Metro enrolls more students who qualify for Pell and NJ TAG, which pulls its average down. Your own number depends on your family’s finances, not the campus.
Do out-of-state students pay more at FDU?
Not in tuition. But they miss out on New Jersey’s state grants, and that gap is real. A high-need NJ student can get a TAG award worth over $14,000 a year that an out-of-state student simply can’t access.
Does FDU Advantage cover room and board?
No. FDU Advantage covers tuition only. Pell-eligible students who live on campus can get a separate $2,000-a-year housing grant to help with the dorm bill.
Will the price go up after freshman year?
It can. FDU says tuition and fees are subject to change and new rates are usually published each spring. Merit scholarships are set when your student enrolls, so plan for the bill to creep up a bit while the scholarship stays flat.
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/tuition-fees/florham-campus-tuition-fees/
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/tuition-fees/metropolitan-campus-tuition-fees/
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/undergraduate/new-jersey-grants/
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
📅 FDU Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)
- Fall of senior year: Apply through the Common App. Merit is decided automatically when your student is admitted, and FDU says earlier applicants get maximum scholarship consideration.
- October 1: The FAFSA historically opens. FDU’s school code is 002607.
- February 15: New Jersey residents should have the FAFSA in by now to protect TAG, EOF, and FDU Advantage. This is also the Sammartino deadline, and Mertz usually lands in mid-February too.
- April 15: FDU’s recommended FAFSA date for maximum FDU aid.
Parent rule of thumb: if you live in New Jersey, treat February 15 as your real deadline.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Fairleigh Dickinson
Note: FDU doesn’t publish GPA cutoffs or award levels, so we don’t guess at them. For a reality check, FDU’s most recent Common Data Set reports that first-year students who got merit without financial need averaged about $14,800, and the average admitted student had a 3.60 high school GPA.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Fairleigh Dickinson)
How much merit money can my student get at FDU?
Up to $22,000 a year, renewable for four years. The amount is based on high school GPA. FDU doesn’t publish a chart, so you’ll see your exact number in the admission letter.
Do test scores help with FDU merit?
No. FDU says merit is based on high school GPA, and admission is test-optional. If your student’s scores are average, there’s no money reason to send them.
Is there a deadline for automatic merit?
There’s no hard cutoff because FDU admits on a rolling basis. FDU does say applying early gets maximum scholarship consideration, so fall of senior year is the smart move.
Can the Alumni and Family grants stack with merit?
Yes. FDU says its grants can be combined with academic scholarships. A student with an FDU-grad parent gets the $1,500 Alumni Grant on top of merit, and siblings enrolled at the same time each get the $1,500 Family Grant.
What do transfer students get?
Every full-time transfer is automatically considered for up to $15,500 a year. Phi Theta Kappa members who finish their associate degree with at least a 3.0 GPA can add another $2,000 a year for two years.
How does my student keep the scholarship?
Stay full-time and keep the GPA listed in the award letter. FDU sets the renewal GPA per student, so save that letter and make sure your student knows the number.
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/fdu-scholarships/undergraduate-scholarships/
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/undergraduate/fdu-grants/
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/freshman/
https://www.fdu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2024-25-Common-Data-Set-University.pdf
🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at FDU?
| Aid Type | Stacks with Merit? | Parent Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Alumni and Family Grants | Yes | FDU says these grants combine with academic scholarships. Flat $1,500 each. |
| Mertz and Sammartino | Yes | Winners are still reviewed for FDU’s other academic scholarships. |
| Athletic Scholarships | Yes | FDU says athletic aid can combine with academic scholarships, within NCAA rules. |
| NJ TAG, EOF, Pell | Yes | State and federal grants layer on top. This is where NJ families see the biggest drop in price. |
| FDU Advantage | Ask | Covers full tuition for qualifying NJ students. FDU doesn’t spell out how it layers with merit, so ask financial aid to walk you through the award letter. |
One rule applies to all of it: total aid can’t go over the cost of attendance. In practice, most FDU families never get close to that ceiling.
❓ Competitive Scholarship FAQs (Fairleigh Dickinson)
Who can apply for the Mertz Scholarship?
Only seniors at nine New Jersey high schools that have a connection to the Mertz family: Delbarton, Donald M. Payne Senior Tech, KIPP Newark, Mount St. Mary’s Academy, North Star Academy, Oratory Prep, St. Benedict’s Prep, St. Peter’s Prep, and St. Vincent’s Academy. If your student isn’t at one of those, it’s not an option.
How much is the Mertz Scholarship, and when is it due?
Up to $10,000 a year, based on strengths and financial need. The deadline has been mid-February (it was February 13 last cycle). It takes a short essay, a resume, two recommendation letters, the FAFSA, and a spring interview for finalists.
What is the Sammartino Scholarship?
It’s for incoming freshmen in QUEST, FDU’s five-year program that ends with both a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching. Awards average about $5,000 a year, last all five years with a 3.0 GPA, and can actually go up each year if your student performs well.
When is the Sammartino deadline?
February 15, 2027. If your student is under 18, a parent has to sign the application by March 1, so don’t let that one slip.
Does FDU have a full-ride competition?
No. The closest thing to a full-tuition award at FDU is FDU Advantage, which is need-based and covered in the Hidden Gems section below.
https://www.fdu.edu/mertz-scholarship/
https://www.fdu.edu/sammartino-scholarship/
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/undergraduate/fdu-grants/
University Honors Program at Fairleigh Dickinson
FDU runs a University Honors Program on both New Jersey campuses. It’s a separate application from regular admission, and the perks are real: priority registration, smaller honors classes, optional honors housing, a faculty research mentor, and an honors designation on the diploma and transcript.
- Priority Deadline: December 1 (decision by about February 1)
- Regular Deadline: March 1 (decision by about April 1)
- Application: Three short-answer essays plus your FDU application. No recommendation letters needed.
Honors Scholarships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
FDU openly says there is no honors scholarship. The reason is actually family-friendly: if a student gets overwhelmed or their GPA dips, they can leave Honors without losing a dime of aid. Your student’s merit and need-based money is the same either way.
- Free events and trips: On-campus events and local outings like theater trips and museum visits cost students nothing.
- Conference costs covered: Students who present at the Northeast Regional Honors Conference have their expenses paid.
- Research grants: FDU offers grants to support senior capstone and research projects.
Honors FAQs (Fairleigh Dickinson)
Can my student apply to Honors with a GPA below 3.3?
Yes. FDU reviews Honors applications holistically and says it looks at experiences, essays, and potential, not just grades.
What GPA does my student need to stay in Honors?
It rises each year: 3.25 after freshman year, 3.30 after sophomore year, 3.40 after junior year, and 3.50 to graduate with Honors.
Does Honors housing cost more?
It can be slightly more. At the Metropolitan Campus, the Honors and Global Scholars double in University Court runs $5,338 a semester, compared with $5,082 for a standard double there. Honors housing is optional.
Do we have to wait for the admission decision before applying to Honors?
No. Your student can apply to Honors as soon as the FDU application is submitted. Admitted Honors students confirm their spot separately from their FDU enrollment deposit.
Is it an Honors College?
No. FDU calls it the University Honors Program. It doesn’t have its own dean or separate tuition, and that’s normal for a school FDU’s size.
https://www.fdu.edu/academics/honors/
https://www.fdu.edu/academics/honors/how-to-apply/
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/tuition-fees/metropolitan-campus-tuition-fees/
⭐ College Specialty
Fairleigh Dickinson calls itself New Jersey’s largest private university, but it doesn’t feel like one big campus. Your student picks a home base: Florham in Madison, which feels like a small residential college, or Metropolitan in Teaneck, which is busier, more diverse, and close enough to New York City for internships and weekend trips. Both campuses are built around practical, career-focused majors.
Silberman College of Business: business is the most popular field at FDU, accounting for about one in five bachelor’s degrees. It also has its own pool of donor scholarships (about 25 named awards) that business students can apply for through FDU’s scholarship portal.
- Psychology: FDU’s second-largest bachelor’s field, with a strong pipeline into FDU’s own graduate psychology programs.
- Nursing and Health Sciences: Health professions make up about 10% of FDU’s bachelor’s degrees, including programs with hospital-based internships.
- Cybersecurity: FDU has been recognized by the National Security Agency as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, with a computer science track in cybersecurity.
- Hospitality Management: A long-standing FDU specialty that benefits from the New York City hotel and event market next door.
- Pharmacy Pathway: FDU’s School of Pharmacy in Florham Park offers the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), a graduate degree that students start after completing pre-pharmacy coursework.
- Teacher Prep (QUEST): A five-year path to both a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching, with its own scholarship.
- Wroxton College: FDU owns a campus in a 17th-century English abbey in Oxfordshire. Students can spend a semester there and keep their FDU aid.
🔗 Official Fairleigh Dickinson University Links
Use FDU’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, award amounts, and costs. Rules change every year, so always confirm on the university’s own site before you count on a number.
-
Freshman Admissions:
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/freshman/ -
Undergraduate Scholarships:
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/fdu-scholarships/undergraduate-scholarships/ -
FDU Grants (Merit, Alumni, Family, Housing):
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/undergraduate/fdu-grants/ -
FDU Advantage (Full Tuition for High-Need NJ Students):
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/undergraduate/advantage/ -
Applying for Financial Aid (FAFSA Deadlines):
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/undergraduate/applying/ -
New Jersey State Grants (TAG, EOF, STARS II):
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/undergraduate/new-jersey-grants/ -
Tuition and Fees (Florham Campus):
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/tuition-fees/florham-campus-tuition-fees/ -
Tuition and Fees (Metropolitan Campus):
https://www.fdu.edu/admissions/tuition-fees/metropolitan-campus-tuition-fees/ -
University Honors Program:
https://www.fdu.edu/academics/honors/ -
Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF):
https://www.fdu.edu/about/university-leadership-offices/eof/ -
Common Data Set (Institutional Data):
https://www.fdu.edu/about/university-leadership-offices/office-of-institutional-research-and-assessment/
✅ Wrapping It Up
Big picture? Fairleigh Dickinson is one of the few private colleges that actually lowered its price, and it shows in how the money works. Merit is simple and automatic, up to $22,000 a year based on GPA, with no test scores and no scholarship essays. Your student just has to apply.
Where FDU really stands out is for New Jersey families with financial need. Between NJ TAG, EOF, the Pell housing grant, and FDU Advantage covering full tuition for the highest-need students, a private degree here can cost less than a lot of state schools. The catch is paperwork: get the FAFSA in by February 15, and make sure your student logs into AwardSpring once they’re enrolled.
If your student wants a practical major like business, psychology, nursing, or cybersecurity, plus the option of a semester in an English abbey, FDU is worth a hard look before you rule out “private” on price alone.
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