William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Wayne, New Jersey. It enrolls 6,614 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes31
Value64
Affordability69
Selectivity21
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 90.1%, William Paterson University of New Jersey is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
90.1%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether William Paterson University of New Jersey is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
17.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending William Paterson University of New Jersey isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,745 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,745
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
43%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$15,704
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$25,344
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,240
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,678
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,166
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,002
Total Cost of Attendance
$28,476
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,171
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,287
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,505
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,862
Over $110,000
$24,917
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$22,334Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$35,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,250
↓ $6,084
No Pell $15,000
↓ $7,334
Dependent students $15,174
↓ $7,160
Independent students $17,769
↓ $4,565
Female students $16,250
↓ $6,084
Male students $15,000
↓ $7,334
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($22,334), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
58% of full-time students who enrolled at William Paterson University of New Jersey graduate within six years, and 73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered William Paterson University of New Jersey earn a median of $57,780 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$57,780
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$45,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$53,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,900, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
William Paterson University of New Jersey is home to 6,614 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 44% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
6,614
Part-Time
21%
First-Generation
44%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 34.1%2,253
White 29.6%1,958
Black 21.7%1,433
Asian 6.8%451
International 2.6%170
Other 2.5%164
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at William Paterson University of New Jersey. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbWayne, New Jersey
Housing
Partly residential1,486 beds available
Adult Learners
32%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
William Paterson University of New Jersey offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
77 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at William Paterson University of New Jersey is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$13,937
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$37M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$113,230
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
252 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
155
62%
$129,818
Associate Professors
65
26%
$102,388
Assistant Professors
27
11%
$86,157
Instructors
4
2%
$72,349
No Rank
1
0%
$81,620
Pros & Cons of William Paterson University of New Jersey
A quick at-a-glance summary of how William Paterson University of New Jersey tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, William Paterson University of New Jersey is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about William Paterson University of New Jersey
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about William Paterson University of New Jersey.
Is William Paterson University of New Jersey hard to get into?
William Paterson University of New Jersey has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 90.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at William Paterson University of New Jersey?
William Paterson University of New Jersey has an acceptance rate of 90.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does William Paterson University of New Jersey cost?
The average net price after aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey is $18,745 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is William Paterson University of New Jersey worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $57,780 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,745 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is William Paterson University of New Jersey known for?
William Paterson University of New Jersey is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering William Paterson University of New Jersey are $57,780, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is William Paterson University of New Jersey accredited?
Yes. William Paterson University of New Jersey is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend William Paterson University of New Jersey?
William Paterson University of New Jersey enrolls 6,614 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at William Paterson University of New Jersey?
William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is William Paterson University of New Jersey a public or private college?
William Paterson University of New Jersey is a Public institution.
Where is William Paterson University of New Jersey located?
William Paterson University of New Jersey is located in Wayne, New Jersey.
What programs does William Paterson University of New Jersey offer?
William Paterson University of New Jersey offers 77 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at William Paterson University of New Jersey?
The student-to-faculty ratio at William Paterson University of New Jersey is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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