- Snapshot Card
- Start Here
- Fordham University Online Master's Programs
- Quick Decision Guide
- What Fordham University Is Known For
- Online Master's Programs at Fordham University by Subject
- How Fordham University Compares
- Featured Programs at Fordham University
- Admissions Snapshot
- Tuition and Cost Overview
- Related Rankings
- Frequently Asked Questions
Fordham University Snapshot Card
8
Online master’s programs
$1,245
Per credit hour
—
Public university ranking
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Public research university
Key policies
Institution type:
Private, Nonprofit
Regional accreditation:
MSCHE
Admissions model:
Deadline-based
GRE/GMAT required:
Waiver available
Out-of-state premium:
no residency differential
Notable Programmatic Accreditations
- AACSB
- CSWE
- Edited By Jeevan D'Souza
Start Here
- Working educators in or near New York seeking state certification pathways (SBL, TESOL) through a recognized university
- Social work professionals who want a CSWE-accredited MSW with a Jesuit social-justice orientation and are prepared for field placement requirements
- Career changers and mid-career professionals seeking an AACSB-accredited MBA with NYC financial and corporate network access
- Students who want a smaller-cohort, values-oriented learning community rather than a large-scale online program
- Students on tight budgets who need tuition under $500/credit — Fordham’s rates range from approximately $1,245 to $1,555 per credit
- Students seeking STEM, engineering, nursing, cybersecurity, or other technical master’s programs not in Fordham’s online catalog
- Learners who prefer fully self-paced, competency-based formats with maximum scheduling flexibility
- Students who want dozens of online program options from a single institution
Fordham University Online Master’s Programs
Fordham University is a private Jesuit institution headquartered in New York City, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Founded in 1841, Fordham has built a reputation rooted in the Jesuit intellectual tradition — an emphasis on rigorous inquiry, ethical reasoning, and service to others — that shapes its graduate programs in tangible ways. For online master’s students, Fordham’s identity matters most in three domains: education, social work, and business.
Fordham’s online master’s portfolio is deliberately focused rather than expansive. The university does not try to be all things to all students. Instead, it concentrates its online offerings in areas where it has established institutional strength: a CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work, multiple education degrees aligned with New York State certification pathways, and an AACSB-accredited MBA through the Gabelli School of Business. A Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership bridges the social work and public administration space, and an MS in Applied Statistics rounds out the business-side options.
This page evaluates Fordham’s online master’s programs on the terms that matter to prospective students: program quality, cost realities, professional network value, accreditation strength, and honest fit. Fordham’s concentrated catalog means it excels in specific niches — but it also means students looking for breadth, STEM options, or budget-friendly tuition will need to look elsewhere. The sections below are designed to help you make that determination.
Quick Decision Guide
This guide provides at-a-glance signals to help you quickly determine whether Fordham’s online master’s programs warrant deeper research — or whether your time is better spent evaluating other institutions.
Quick Fit Summary: Fordham’s online master’s programs are designed for working professionals who value a mission-driven education from a respected private university with deep roots in New York City’s professional ecosystem — particularly in social work, education, and business.
Cost Signal: Approximately $1,245/credit for education programs, $1,295/credit for social work and nonprofit leadership, and $1,555/credit for Gabelli School of Business programs. Total program costs range from roughly $41,000 to $93,000 depending on program and credit requirements.
Learning Model Signal: Most programs use asynchronous coursework with cohort-based progression and deadline-driven schedules. The MSW requires in-person field placement hours. Some programs may include synchronous session components.
Admissions Signal: Deadline-based admissions across all programs. Moderately selective. GRE/GMAT not required for education or social work programs; GMAT/GRE waiver available for qualifying MBA applicants.
Flexibility Signal: Part-time enrollment available. Most programs offer Fall and Spring starts, with TESOL also offering Summer entry. Completion timelines typically range from 18 to 36 months depending on pace and program length.
Main Tradeoff: Fordham offers the credential strength, mission-driven community, and NYC network of a well-regarded private Jesuit university — but at a significant cost premium over public alternatives and with a narrower online catalog than large-scale online providers.
What Fordham University Is Known For
Fordham’s institutional identity is inseparable from its Jesuit roots, and that shapes the graduate experience in ways that go beyond mission statements. The Jesuit intellectual tradition emphasizes critical thinking, ethical engagement, and a commitment to social justice — principles that are woven into curriculum design across Fordham’s graduate schools. In the MSW program, this manifests as a strong orientation toward advocacy and service to marginalized communities. In the Gabelli School of Business, it shows up as an emphasis on responsible leadership and ethical decision-making alongside traditional business competencies. For education students, the Jesuit framework supports a reflective, student-centered approach to pedagogy and school leadership.
New York City is the other defining feature of a Fordham education. Even for online students, the NYC connection creates tangible advantages. Fordham’s alumni network is heavily concentrated in the New York metropolitan area’s major industries — finance, media, nonprofit organizations, healthcare, social services, and public education. MBA students benefit from Gabelli’s corporate partnerships and recruiting relationships with firms headquartered in Manhattan. Social work students tap into one of the densest nonprofit and social services ecosystems in the country for field placements and post-graduation employment. Education students pursue certification in one of the nation’s largest and most complex school systems.
Academically, Fordham is strongest in the three areas it has chosen to offer online: the Graduate School of Social Service has been training social workers since 1916 and holds full CSWE accreditation; the Graduate School of Education has deep roots in teacher preparation and educational leadership, particularly for New York State; and the Gabelli School of Business carries AACSB accreditation — a distinction held by fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide. These are not afterthought online add-ons; they represent areas where Fordham has invested institutional reputation over decades.
Online Master’s Programs at Fordham University by Subject
The table below lists all of Fordham’s known online master’s programs with key decision-relevant data points: credit requirements, per-credit tuition rates, total estimated costs, admissions details, and accreditation status. Programs are grouped by subject area to help you compare options within and across fields. After the table, subject-area subsections provide evaluative context that the raw data alone cannot convey.
| Program | Degree | Subject | Concentrations | Credits | Duration | $/Credit | Est. Total | Starts | GRE Req. | Accreditation | In-Person | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Teaching (MST) — TESOL | MS | Education | — | 36 | 18–24 mo | $1,245 | $44,820 | Fall, Spring, Summer | No | — | No | NY State initial TESOL certification |
| MSE — Administration and Supervision | MSE | Education | — | 36 | 18–24 mo | $1,245 | $44,820 | Fall, Spring | No | — | No | School Building Leader (SBL) certification |
| MSE — Curriculum and Teaching | MSE | Education | — | 33 | 18–24 mo | $1,245 | $41,085 | Fall, Spring | No | — | No | For practicing teachers |
| MSE — Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy | MSE | Education | — | 36 | 18–24 mo | $1,245 | $44,820 | Fall, Spring | No | — | No | Leadership and policy focus |
| Master of Social Work (MSW) | MSW | Social Work | Clinical Practice; Leadership and Macro Practice | 60 | 24–36 mo | $1,295 | $77,700 | Fall, Spring | No | CSWE | Yes | Field placement required; advanced standing for BSW (33 cr) |
| MBA | MBA | Business | Finance; Management; Marketing; Accounting; Information Systems | 60 | 24–36 mo | $1,555 | $93,300 | Fall, Spring | No | AACSB | No | GMAT/GRE waiver available; Gabelli School |
| MS in Applied Statistics and Decision-Making | MS | Business | — | 30 | 12–24 mo | $1,555 | $46,650 | Fall, Spring | No | AACSB | No | Gabelli School; quantitative analytics focus |
| MS in Nonprofit Leadership | MS | Public Administration | — | 36 | 18–24 mo | $1,295 | $46,620 | Fall, Spring | No | — | No | Graduate School of Social Service |
Education is the broadest slice of Fordham’s online master’s portfolio, with four distinct programs targeting different career trajectories within the field. The MST in TESOL is Fordham’s most distinctive education offering online — it leads directly to New York State initial teaching certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, making it particularly relevant for career changers entering the teaching profession or educators adding a high-demand certification. The three MSE programs serve different segments of the education workforce: the Administration and Supervision track prepares aspiring school building leaders for SBL certification, the Curriculum and Teaching program deepens instructional design skills for experienced classroom teachers, and the Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy program targets a broader policy-oriented leadership trajectory.
All four education programs are priced at $1,245 per credit, placing them on the more expensive end of online master’s in education options nationally — especially compared to public university alternatives. However, the direct New York State certification alignment is a genuine differentiator for students who plan to work in the NY education system. For students outside New York or those without plans to pursue NY certification, the value proposition changes significantly, and lower-cost options from public institutions may deliver comparable outcomes.
Fordham’s online MSW is the university’s flagship online program and one of its strongest competitive cards. The Graduate School of Social Service has been training social workers for over a century, and the online MSW carries full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) — a non-negotiable credential for anyone seeking clinical licensure. The program offers two concentration tracks: Clinical Practice for students pursuing direct therapeutic work, and Leadership and Macro Practice for those aiming at organizational, community, or policy-level roles.
Two critical details shape the fit evaluation. First, the MSW requires in-person field placement hours, meaning this is not a fully location-independent program. Students must arrange supervised placements in their local communities, which adds logistical complexity but also ensures the clinical training meets licensure standards. Second, BSW holders can take advantage of the advanced standing pathway, completing the degree in 33 credits rather than 60 — a significant cost and time reduction that brings the estimated total from $77,700 down to approximately $42,735.
At $1,295 per credit for the standard track, Fordham’s MSW is a premium-priced option within the online master’s in social work landscape. The Jesuit social-justice mission and the strength of the GSSS brand in the New York nonprofit and social services sector provide genuine value — but students outside the Northeast or those without strong ties to that ecosystem should weigh whether that premium justifies the investment compared to more affordable CSWE-accredited alternatives.
The Gabelli School of Business houses Fordham’s two online business programs, both carrying AACSB accreditation — a quality marker that places them in an exclusive tier globally. The online MBA is the centerpiece: a 60-credit program with five concentration options spanning core business disciplines. At $1,555 per credit and an estimated total cost of $93,300, this is one of the more expensive online MBA programs available. The GMAT/GRE waiver for qualified applicants lowers one barrier to entry, but the price point demands serious ROI consideration.
The MS in Applied Statistics and Decision-Making occupies a more niche position — a 30-credit quantitative program designed for professionals moving into analytics, data-informed strategy, or business intelligence roles. At $46,650 estimated total, it is substantially more affordable than the MBA while still carrying the Gabelli AACSB stamp. For students whose career trajectory is more analytics-focused than general management, this program may offer better value per dollar than the full MBA.
The key question for both programs is whether Fordham’s NYC corporate network and Gabelli brand justify the premium over AACSB-accredited online MBAs at public universities that can run $20,000–$40,000 less. For students who plan to leverage the New York financial services, consulting, or media ecosystems, the network math can work. For students in other geographic markets or industries, the ROI equation is less clear.
The MS in Nonprofit Leadership is housed in Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service rather than in a traditional public administration department, which tells you something about the program’s orientation. It bridges organizational management and social work perspectives, preparing students to lead mission-driven organizations — a natural extension of Fordham’s Jesuit commitment to service. At 36 credits and $1,295 per credit (approximately $46,620 total), it sits at the intersection of social service expertise and executive leadership training.
This program fills a genuinely underserved niche. Many universities offer MPA or MNA degrees, but few position nonprofit leadership within a social service framework with the depth that Fordham provides. New York City is home to one of the largest concentrations of nonprofit organizations in the country, and Fordham’s alumni connections in that sector create real post-graduation career pathways. That said, students whose interest leans more toward government administration or public policy — rather than nonprofit management specifically — would likely find a traditional MPA program at a different institution to be a better disciplinary fit.
Looking across Fordham’s full online master’s portfolio, the pattern is unmistakable: this is a university that has chosen depth over breadth. Eight programs across four subject areas is a small footprint compared to institutions like Boston University or Arizona State, which offer dozens or even hundreds of online master’s options. But the programs Fordham does offer online are anchored in areas where the university has invested decades of institutional reputation — social work dating to 1916, education deeply embedded in the New York State certification ecosystem, and business through a Gabelli School that carries one of the most respected accreditations in the field. What Fordham deliberately does not offer online is equally telling: there are no STEM programs, no healthcare or nursing degrees, no criminal justice or cybersecurity options, and no competency-based or self-paced formats. This is not a gap born of neglect — it reflects a strategic decision to extend online only those programs where Fordham’s Jesuit identity, NYC network, and programmatic accreditations create a defensible value proposition. For students whose goals align with that focused portfolio, the concentration is a strength. For students who need options outside these domains, it is a clear signal to look elsewhere.
How Fordham University Compares
Prospective online master’s students considering Fordham are typically also evaluating other private universities with strong reputations and established online programs — as well as at least one large-scale, lower-cost alternative. The comparisons below are structured around the dimensions that most often determine which institution wins the decision: program breadth, cost, accreditation strength, delivery flexibility, and professional network value.
Fordham vs. Boston University: Boston University offers one of the broadest online master’s catalogs among private universities, spanning dozens of programs across health sciences, computer science, criminal justice, education, social work, and business. Fordham’s online portfolio is a fraction of that size. Both carry elite programmatic accreditations in their respective flagship areas, and both command premium tuition. The differentiator comes down to focus vs. breadth: if you know you want social work, education, or business and value Fordham’s Jesuit identity and NYC network, Fordham may be the stronger fit. If you want maximum choice or a program Fordham simply does not offer online, BU’s catalog wins.
Fordham vs. Syracuse University: Syracuse University is another mid-Atlantic private institution with well-regarded online programs, but its strengths cluster in different areas — notably communications, data science, information management, and public affairs. There is limited overlap in core program areas, which means the comparison is less about which does the same thing better and more about which institution’s strengths align with your field. For education, social work, or NYC-networked business, Fordham has the edge. For communications, library science, or IT-oriented programs, Syracuse is the clear choice.
Fordham vs. George Washington University: George Washington University occupies a similar niche — prestigious private university in a major city (DC), strong professional network, premium pricing. GWU’s online portfolio leans toward political science, public health, engineering management, and policy-adjacent fields, reflecting its DC location. Fordham’s NYC orientation produces different network advantages: finance, media, nonprofit, and social services rather than government and policy. Both are expensive; the decision typically comes down to which city’s professional ecosystem matches your career trajectory.
Fordham vs. Arizona State University: Arizona State University represents the large-scale, innovation-driven public alternative that reframes the value conversation entirely. ASU offers over 200 online degree programs, rolling admissions, and significantly lower tuition — often half or less of Fordham’s per-credit rate. ASU won’t deliver the Jesuit mission, the intimate cohort experience, or the NYC alumni network. But for students whose primary concerns are cost, program variety, and scheduling flexibility, ASU (and similar large public universities) may deliver a stronger overall value proposition.
The pattern across these comparisons is consistent: Fordham wins on mission alignment, NYC network depth, and programmatic accreditation prestige within its focused areas. It loses on breadth, cost, and flexibility. Students who know what they want and value the specific things Fordham does well will find genuine advantage here. Students who are less certain about their field or more sensitive to cost will generally be better served by a broader or more affordable institution.
Best For
Fordham’s online master’s programs deliver the clearest value to students whose goals align tightly with the university’s concentrated strengths. The following profiles represent the students most likely to benefit:
- Working educators pursuing New York State certification. Fordham’s education programs are explicitly designed around NY certification pathways — SBL certification for school building leaders and initial TESOL certification for language educators. If your career is in or near the New York education system, these programs provide both the credential and the professional network to support your advancement. The $1,245/credit investment is easier to justify when the certification outcome directly unlocks salary increases and career mobility within NY public schools.
- Social work professionals seeking a CSWE-accredited MSW with a social-justice mission. The Fordham MSW is not just an accredited program — it is an expression of the Jesuit commitment to serving vulnerable populations. Students who are drawn to clinical practice or macro-level advocacy and want their graduate education to reflect those values will find meaningful alignment here. The NYC social services ecosystem is a powerful backdrop for field placements and post-graduation employment. BSW holders who qualify for advanced standing can complete the degree at significantly reduced time and cost.
- Mid-career professionals who want an AACSB-accredited MBA with NYC corporate access. The Gabelli School MBA carries AACSB accreditation and places graduates into a recruiting network that spans Wall Street, midtown consulting firms, and New York’s media and tech sectors. For professionals who are already in or targeting the NYC metropolitan job market, the Gabelli brand carries recognizable weight with hiring managers.
- Mission-aligned students who want a values-driven graduate education. Some students actively seek a university whose institutional values shape the learning experience. Fordham’s Jesuit tradition infuses coursework with ethical reasoning, community engagement, and reflective practice in ways that large-scale online programs typically do not emphasize. If that matters to you, it is a genuine differentiator.
- Nonprofit leaders seeking specialized management training. The MS in Nonprofit Leadership is unusually well-positioned for professionals running or aspiring to lead mission-driven organizations, particularly in the NYC nonprofit sector. The program’s placement within the Graduate School of Social Service gives it a social-impact orientation that generic management degrees lack.
Not a Best Fit For
Honest evaluation requires identifying where Fordham is not the best option. The following student profiles will likely find stronger matches elsewhere:
Budget-conscious students who need affordable tuition above all else. Fordham’s per-credit rates range from $1,245 to $1,555, producing total program costs between $41,000 and $93,000. Students who are unwilling or unable to invest at that level should explore public university alternatives or competency-based options. Western Governors University offers flat-rate, competency-based master’s programs at a fraction of the cost, and Arizona State University provides high-quality online programs at public university tuition rates.
Students seeking STEM, engineering, nursing, cybersecurity, or healthcare programs. Fordham’s online master’s catalog does not include any of these fields. If your target degree is in a technical or health-science discipline, you need a different institution entirely. Northeastern University and Purdue University both offer broad online catalogs that include STEM and engineering options.
Students who want maximum program variety from one institution. Fordham offers eight online master’s programs. Students who want to explore across disciplines or who are undecided about their field will find far more options at large-scale providers. Boston University, Arizona State, and University of Southern California all maintain online catalogs many times larger.
Learners who need fully self-paced, competency-based formats. Fordham’s programs follow cohort-based, deadline-driven structures. Students who need to progress entirely at their own pace — particularly those with highly irregular work schedules — will find this structure constraining. Competency-based providers like Western Governors University or institutions with rolling, module-based start dates offer substantially more flexibility.
Students outside the Northeast with no NYC career ties. Much of Fordham’s value proposition is linked to its New York City professional network. Students who plan to work in other regions and have no interest in the NYC ecosystem will capture less of the network premium they are paying for. A regionally strong institution closer to your target market or a nationally scaled online program may deliver better career ROI.
Featured Programs at Fordham University
Three programs represent Fordham’s strongest competitive positions in the online master’s space. These are the programs where Fordham’s institutional strengths — accreditation, mission, network, faculty depth — combine to create offerings that are genuinely difficult for competitors to replicate.
Master of Social Work (MSW): The Fordham MSW is the program most clearly justified at its price point. Full CSWE accreditation means the degree meets the clinical licensure requirements in every state — a baseline credential that many newer or less-established online MSW programs cannot guarantee with the same institutional backing. The two concentration tracks (Clinical Practice and Leadership/Macro Practice) allow students to specialize based on whether they are heading toward direct therapeutic practice or organizational-level change. The advanced standing pathway for BSW holders is a major practical advantage, cutting the program from 60 to 33 credits. Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service alumni network is particularly dense in NYC-area hospitals, community mental health agencies, child welfare organizations, and nonprofit leadership — making field placement connections and post-graduation job searches notably smoother for students in the region. The required in-person field placement is both the program’s logistical limitation and its quality assurance mechanism: it ensures that clinical training cannot be entirely simulated or bypassed.
Master of Business Administration (MBA): The Gabelli School MBA’s AACSB accreditation places it among a small percentage of global business programs meeting the gold-standard accreditation bar. The five concentration options — Finance, Management, Marketing, Accounting, and Information Systems — allow reasonable specialization within a generalist MBA framework. At $93,300 estimated total, the cost demands clear ROI reasoning: this is a program that makes the most financial sense for professionals who will leverage the Gabelli name and the NYC corporate network to access opportunities in finance, consulting, or management that would justify the investment. The GMAT/GRE waiver policy lowers the friction for experienced professionals who can demonstrate readiness through their work history rather than standardized test scores.
Master of Science in Teaching (MST) — TESOL: This program occupies a specific and valuable niche: it is one of relatively few fully online programs that lead directly to New York State initial teaching certification in TESOL. For career changers entering the education field or educators adding a high-demand certification, this pathway is concretely career-enabling. TESOL expertise is in strong demand in urban school districts across the country, but the NY certification alignment is the specific differentiator. The three-start-per-year schedule (Fall, Spring, Summer) provides more entry points than most of Fordham’s other programs, and the fully online format means no in-person requirements — a meaningful practical advantage over the MSW’s field placement mandate.
Admissions Snapshot
Fordham uses deadline-based admissions across all of its online master’s programs, meaning applications are reviewed in cycles rather than on a rolling basis. Most programs admit students for Fall and Spring semesters; the MST in TESOL also accepts Summer starts. This structure means you will need to plan your application timeline around published deadlines rather than applying whenever convenient.
The GRE and GMAT are not required for any of Fordham’s education or social work online programs. For the MBA and MS in Applied Statistics, the GMAT/GRE is officially part of the application but waivers are available for applicants who meet certain professional experience or academic performance thresholds — a policy that has become increasingly common among AACSB-accredited programs. In practice, the majority of online MBA applicants at institutions like Fordham pursue and receive waivers.
General admissions expectations include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a competitive undergraduate GPA (typically 3.0 or above, though this is not always a hard cutoff), professional experience relevant to the program, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. The MSW program has additional requirements including a social work–relevant personal statement and may require specific prerequisite coursework depending on the applicant’s undergraduate background. The education programs generally expect applicants to have teaching experience or education-related professional backgrounds, though the TESOL MST is open to career changers.
Selectivity varies by program. The MBA and MSW programs tend to be the most competitive given their brand strength and accreditation status. Education programs are moderately selective, with certification-pathway programs drawing applicants who are already working in schools. Across the board, Fordham evaluates applications holistically — test scores are not the primary decision driver.
Tuition and Cost Overview
Fordham’s online master’s tuition is structured at the school level, creating distinct pricing tiers that affect the total investment significantly depending on your program choice.
The Graduate School of Education programs — including all four MSE/MST options — are priced at $1,245 per credit. With credit requirements ranging from 33 to 36 credits, total estimated costs for education programs fall between approximately $41,085 and $44,820. These are not inexpensive for education degrees, but they are notably lower than Fordham’s business-school rates.
The Graduate School of Social Service programs — the MSW and the MS in Nonprofit Leadership — are priced at $1,295 per credit. The MSW’s 60-credit standard track produces an estimated total cost of $77,700, though advanced standing students (BSW holders) reduce that to approximately $42,735 for 33 credits. The Nonprofit Leadership MS runs approximately $46,620 at 36 credits.
The Gabelli School of Business programs command the highest per-credit rate at $1,555. The MBA’s 60-credit structure results in an estimated total of $93,300 — one of the higher price points in the online MBA market. The MS in Applied Statistics, at 30 credits, comes in at approximately $46,650.
To put these numbers in context: a typical online master’s in education at a public university might cost $15,000–$25,000 total. An AACSB-accredited online MBA at a public flagship might run $40,000–$60,000. Fordham’s pricing reflects private-university cost structures, and students should enter with clear reasoning about what the Fordham credential, network, and mission add to their career trajectory. If you are exploring where Fordham’s cost fits within the broader landscape, the most affordable online master’s programs ranking provides useful baseline comparisons.
Financial aid is available to online students, including merit-based scholarships, need-based grants, federal student loans, and employer tuition assistance programs. Fordham’s financial aid office evaluates online students using the same aid framework as campus-based students, though scholarship availability and amounts vary by program and academic profile. Students should contact their specific graduate school for current scholarship opportunities before finalizing cost calculations.
Visit Fordham University’s official online programs page
Related Rankings
Fordham’s program strengths align with several OMC ranking categories that can help you evaluate where the university’s offerings stand relative to the broader online master’s landscape.
- If you are considering the Gabelli MBA, the best online MBA programs ranking provides a structured comparison across AACSB-accredited options at varying price points — useful for benchmarking whether Fordham’s premium delivers proportional value. For MSW candidates, the best online master’s in social work programs ranking surfaces CSWE-accredited alternatives that may offer similar credentials at different cost structures. Education students can consult the best online master’s in education programs to see how Fordham’s certification-aligned offerings compare against public university options. And for a broad view across all disciplines, the best online master’s programs overview provides system-wide context on where different institutions excel.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions address the most common decision-relevant concerns prospective students raise about Fordham’s online master’s programs.
Yes. Fordham University holds institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), one of the six regional accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This is the same accreditation that covers all of Fordham’s on-campus programs. Additionally, specific programs hold programmatic accreditations: the MSW is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and the MBA and MS in Applied Statistics carry accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Fordham’s online master’s programs lead to the same degrees conferred by the same schools (Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Social Service, Gabelli School of Business) that deliver on-campus programs. The diplomas do not distinguish between online and in-person delivery. Accreditation bodies like CSWE and AACSB evaluate the program as a whole, not the delivery mode separately. In practice, employers in education, social work, and business — particularly in the NYC metropolitan area — recognize Fordham online credentials the same way they recognize campus-based ones. That said, the on-campus experience may offer more intensive networking opportunities through in-person events and cohort interactions.
Costs vary by program and school. Education programs run approximately $1,245 per credit ($41,085–$44,820 total). Social work and nonprofit leadership programs are approximately $1,295 per credit (MSW standard track: ~$77,700; advanced standing: ~$42,735; Nonprofit Leadership: ~$46,620). Business programs at the Gabelli School are approximately $1,555 per credit (MBA: ~$93,300; MS in Applied Statistics: ~$46,650). These are higher than most public university online programs but consistent with other well-regarded private institutions. Financial aid, scholarships, and employer tuition assistance can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
No, for most programs. Education and social work programs do not require the GRE. The MBA and MS in Applied Statistics at Gabelli nominally include the GMAT/GRE as part of the application, but waivers are available for applicants who meet certain professional experience or academic performance criteria. In practice, many online MBA applicants successfully obtain waivers. Check Fordham’s current admissions pages for the most up-to-date waiver eligibility requirements.
Yes. The online MSW requires supervised field placement hours as part of its CSWE accreditation requirements. These placements must be completed in person at an approved agency in the student’s local community. Fordham’s field education office assists students in identifying and securing placements, but students should be prepared for the logistical reality that this is not a fully location-independent program. The field placement component is what ensures the MSW meets clinical licensure standards nationwide.
Yes, several do. The MST in TESOL leads to New York State initial teaching certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The MSE in Administration and Supervision leads to School Building Leader (SBL) certification in New York. Students pursuing certification in other states should verify reciprocity with their state’s education department, as certification requirements vary. The MSE in Curriculum and Teaching and the MSE in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy are professional development degrees that enhance skills but may or may not align with specific certification outcomes in all states.
Yes. The Gabelli School of Business holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). AACSB accreditation is the most widely recognized quality standard for business schools worldwide, held by fewer than 6% of business schools globally. This accreditation applies to the online MBA and the MS in Applied Statistics and Decision-Making. For students evaluating MBA options, AACSB accreditation is a meaningful quality signal — particularly for roles in finance, consulting, and corporate management where credential recognition matters in hiring decisions.
Online master’s students at Fordham are eligible for the same financial aid framework as campus-based students. This includes merit-based scholarships administered by individual graduate schools, need-based grants, federal student loans (Stafford and Grad PLUS), and consideration of employer tuition reimbursement programs. Scholarship availability and amounts vary by program, enrollment status, and academic profile. Students should contact the financial aid office and their specific graduate school’s admissions team to understand current scholarship opportunities before committing. Given Fordham’s premium tuition, maximizing available aid is an important step in making the investment work financially.