BU vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Should I go to Boston University or William Paterson University of New Jersey? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BU or William Paterson University of New Jersey is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Boston University vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey comparison
Boston University William Paterson University of New Jersey College 3 College 4
Boston University William Paterson University of New Jersey
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Overview

BU William Paterson University of New Jersey
Location Boston, MA Wayne, NJ
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 36,714 9,070
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #79 #557
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bu.edu wpunj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BU William Paterson University of New Jersey
Tuition (In State) $61,050 $14,192
Tuition (Out of State) $61,050 $23,192
Room & Board $17,400 $13,160
Avg Net Price $27,829 $12,967
Avg Grant Aid $51,565 $10,919
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 95%

Admission

BU William Paterson University of New Jersey
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 80,796 7,062
Admitted 11,607 6,464
Acceptance Rate 14.4% 91.5%
Enrolled % 31.3% 12.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 2.97
Typical High School Grades A- B-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/34
SAT Range 1350/1500 990/1345
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 4, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

BU William Paterson University of New Jersey
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

BU William Paterson University of New Jersey
Graduation Rate 85% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $72,000 $46,500
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $253

Diversity

BU William Paterson University of New Jersey
% Men 43% 35%
% Women 57% 65%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 43%
% Black 4% 16%
% Hispanic 11% 27%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 20% 0%
% Unknown Race 5% 3%

Students

BU William Paterson University of New Jersey
% In-State 14% 92%
% Out-of-State 61% 6%

Campus

BU William Paterson University of New Jersey
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Boston University is larger than than William Paterson University of New Jersey based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 9,070 students)

BU vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or William Paterson University of New Jersey?

  • Boston University is 330.2% more expensive to attend than William Paterson University of New Jersey for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $14,192.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 163.2% higher at BU than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($61,050.00 vs. $23,192.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Paterson University of New Jersey than BU ($12,967 vs. $27,829)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 32.2% lower than costs at Boston University ($13,160 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Boston University (95% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 372.3% larger than aid received William Paterson University of New Jersey ($51,565 vs. $10,919)

BU vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or William Paterson University of New Jersey? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between William Paterson University of New Jersey or BU .

  • The average SAT score at Boston University (1303) is 313 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990)
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.82 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (2.97)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey has a higher acceptance rate (91.5%) than BU (14.4%)

BU vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BU or William Paterson University of New Jersey? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between William Paterson University of New Jersey and BU.

  • The graduation rate at BU is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (85% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Boston University earn on average $25,500 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates after ten years. ($72,000 vs. $46,500)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($24,500 vs. $27,000)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($253 vs. $279)
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/