BU vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Deciding between Boston University and William Paterson University of New Jersey? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boston University
William Paterson University of New Jersey

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with William Paterson University of New Jersey in Wayne, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than William Paterson University of New Jersey based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 9,942 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); William Paterson University of New Jersey is in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1.

BU vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or William Paterson University of New Jersey? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Paterson University of New Jersey than BU ($13,509 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 14.6% lower than at Boston University ($16,240 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 333.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $52,398 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $15,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 168.7% higher at BU than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $42,758 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $25,344.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than at Boston University (86% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 311.2% larger than aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students ($61,848 vs. $15,040).

BU vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or William Paterson University of New Jersey? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between William Paterson University of New Jersey and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 310 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (1170).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027.
  • 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 (90.1%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey.

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

How do outcomes compare for BU and William Paterson University of New Jersey? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Boston University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $25,500 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($24,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.