Centenary University vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Should I go to Centenary University or William Paterson University of New Jersey? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Centenary University 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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Centenary University vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey comparison
Centenary University William Paterson University of New Jersey College 3 College 4
Centenary University William Paterson University of New Jersey
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Overview

Centenary University William Paterson University of New Jersey
Location Hackettstown, NJ Wayne, NJ
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,498 9,070
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #722 #557
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centenaryuniversity.edu wpunj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Centenary University William Paterson University of New Jersey
Tuition (In State) $34,890 $14,192
Tuition (Out of State) $34,890 $23,192
Room & Board $12,770 $13,160
Avg Net Price $21,935 $12,967
Avg Grant Aid $27,592 $10,919
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 95%

Admission

Centenary University William Paterson University of New Jersey
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,330 7,062
Admitted 1,284 6,464
Acceptance Rate 96.5% 91.5%
Enrolled % 15.1% 12.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 2.97
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/22
SAT Range 990/1170 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 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

Centenary University William Paterson University of New Jersey
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (35%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Centenary University William Paterson University of New Jersey
Graduation Rate 49% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,600 $46,500
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,500 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $263 $253

Diversity

Centenary University William Paterson University of New Jersey
% Men 33% 35%
% Women 67% 65%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 43%
% Black 11% 16%
% Hispanic 11% 27%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 17% 3%

Students

Centenary University William Paterson University of New Jersey
% In-State 78% 92%
% Out-of-State 22% 6%

Campus

Centenary University 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

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than than Centenary University based on total student enrollment (9,070 students vs. 1,498 students)

Centenary University vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Cost Comparison

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

  • Centenary University is 145.8% more expensive to attend than William Paterson University of New Jersey for in-state tuition ($34,890.00 vs. $14,192.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 50.4% higher at Centenary University than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($34,890.00 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 Centenary University ($12,967 vs. $21,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centenary University are 3.1% lower than costs at William Paterson University of New Jersey ($12,770 vs. $13,160)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Centenary University than William Paterson University of New Jersey (99% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Centenary University students is 152.7% larger than aid received William Paterson University of New Jersey ($27,592 vs. $10,919)

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

Which college is harder to get into, Centenary University 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 Centenary University .

  • The average SAT score at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990) is 61 points higher than at Centenary University (929)
  • Accepted freshman Centenary University students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.23) than students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (2.97)
  • Centenary University has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than William Paterson University of New Jersey (91.5%)

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

Which is better, Centenary University 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 Centenary University.

  • The graduation rate at Centenary University is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (49% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Centenary University earn on average $3,100 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates after ten years. ($49,600 vs. $46,500)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Centenary University graduates. ($24,500 vs. $25,500)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Centenary University graduates. ($253 vs. $263)
  • More Centenary University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 59%)

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