Colby College vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey

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

Colby College William Paterson University of New Jersey
Location Waterville, ME Wayne, NJ
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,299 9,070
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #44 #557
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu wpunj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College William Paterson University of New Jersey
Tuition (In State) $60,840 $14,192
Tuition (Out of State) $60,840 $23,192
Room & Board $16,330 $13,160
Avg Net Price $16,951 $12,967
Avg Grant Aid $61,714 $10,919
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 95%

Admission

Colby College William Paterson University of New Jersey
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,890 7,062
Admitted 1,286 6,464
Acceptance Rate 7.6% 91.5%
Enrolled % 52.3% 12.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 2.97
Typical High School Grades A- B-
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 32/34
SAT Range 1430/1540 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 1, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

Colby College William Paterson University of New Jersey
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Colby College William Paterson University of New Jersey
Graduation Rate 91% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $46,500
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $200 $253

Diversity

Colby College William Paterson University of New Jersey
% Men 48% 35%
% Women 52% 65%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 43%
% Black 3% 16%
% Hispanic 6% 27%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 11% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

Colby College William Paterson University of New Jersey
% In-State 7% 92%
% Out-of-State 79% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (9,070 students vs. 2,299 students)

Colby College vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Cost Comparison

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

  • Colby College is 328.7% more expensive to attend than William Paterson University of New Jersey for in-state tuition ($60,840.00 vs. $14,192.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 162.3% higher at Colby College than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($60,840.00 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 Colby College ($12,967 vs. $16,951)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 24.1% lower than costs at Colby College ($13,160 vs. $16,330)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Colby College (95% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 465.2% larger than aid received William Paterson University of New Jersey ($61,714 vs. $10,919)

Colby College vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College 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 Colby College .

  • The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 373 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990)
  • Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.89 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) 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 Colby College (7.6%)

Colby College vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College 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 Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (91% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $26,900 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $46,500)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $5,155 lower median federal student loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($19,345 vs. $24,500)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($200 vs. $253)
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 59%)

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