
Fairleigh Dickinson University was founded in 1942 in Rutherford, New Jersey, by Peter and Sally Sammartino. It began as a small college and gained university status in 1956. The Florham Campus developed on the former estate of Florence Vanderbilt and Hamilton McKown Twombly, giving it a setting and history distinct from the university's Metropolitan Campus in Teaneck and Hackensack.
The university's expansion into Florham reflects its growth beyond its original Rutherford location. Today, the Madison campus combines undergraduate residential life with graduate study. Prospective students should distinguish Florham-specific programs and facilities from those available elsewhere in the Fairleigh Dickinson University system.
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus offers undergraduate and graduate study across the liberal arts, sciences, business, health-related fields, and the arts. Its academic offerings are part of a university-wide structure, so a degree appearing in an FDU program directory is not necessarily taught at Florham.
The Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences is closely associated with the Florham Campus. Students can explore subjects such as biology, psychology, criminology, communication, and theater. The Silberman College of Business offers business-related study, including accounting, finance, marketing, and hospitality. Nursing and other health-related options require closer attention to program location, admissions criteria, and clinical requirements.
For applicants comparing campuses, the useful question is not only whether FDU offers a major, but where its required courses, laboratories, performances, or clinical experiences take place. The university's academic catalog and the program's campus designation are the appropriate places to check before applying.
Fairleigh Dickinson University's Florham Campus is in Madison, New Jersey, on a former estate near the borough's downtown area. The suburban setting gives residential students a campus-centered experience while placing commuters within reach of Morris County and the broader northern New Jersey region.
Madison has NJ Transit rail service toward Newark and New York City, although the station is not a substitute for checking the time and transportation needed to reach a particular class or job. Newark Liberty International Airport is the nearest major airport. Students comparing FDU locations should note that the Florham Campus is separate from the Metropolitan Campus in Teaneck and Hackensack; travel between them requires planning.
Fairleigh Dickinson University describes its educational mission in terms of preparing students for participation in a connected world through a broad, global education. That emphasis helps explain its mix of liberal arts, professional programs, and international opportunities.
FDU is a private university rather than a religiously affiliated institution. Its stated priorities describe what it aims to provide, not a measured outcome for every student. Applicants can evaluate how those priorities translate into a particular major by looking at its curriculum, experiential requirements, and opportunities available at Florham.
Name of the institution
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1942Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.