Kean vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey

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

Kean William Paterson University of New Jersey
Location Union, NJ Wayne, NJ
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 12,884 9,070
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #663 #557
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website kean.edu wpunj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Kean William Paterson University of New Jersey
Tuition (In State) $10,758 $14,192
Tuition (Out of State) $18,150 $23,192
Room & Board $14,834 $13,160
Avg Net Price $10,747 $12,967
Avg Grant Aid $13,123 $10,919
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 95%

Admission

Kean William Paterson University of New Jersey
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,485 7,062
Admitted 8,661 6,464
Acceptance Rate 82.6% 91.5%
Enrolled % 22.7% 12.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 2.97
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Easy Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/25
SAT Range 900/1160 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 Aug 15, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

Kean William Paterson University of New Jersey
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Kean William Paterson University of New Jersey
Graduation Rate 49% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $46,500
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $253

Diversity

Kean William Paterson University of New Jersey
% Men 36% 35%
% Women 64% 65%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 36% 43%
% Black 20% 16%
% Hispanic 27% 27%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 8% 3%

Students

Kean William Paterson University of New Jersey
% In-State 92% 92%
% Out-of-State 3% 6%

Campus

Kean 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 Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Kean University is larger than than William Paterson University of New Jersey based on total student enrollment (12,884 students vs. 9,070 students)

Kean vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Cost Comparison

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

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is 31.9% more expensive to attend than Kean for in-state tuition ($14,192.00 vs. $10,758.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.8% higher at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Kean University ($23,192.00 vs. $18,150.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kean University than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($10,747 vs. $12,967)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 12.7% lower than costs at Kean University ($13,160 vs. $14,834)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Kean University than William Paterson University of New Jersey (97% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kean University students is 20.2% larger than aid received William Paterson University of New Jersey ($13,123 vs. $10,919)

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

Which college is harder to get into, Kean 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 Kean .

  • The average SAT score at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990) is 62 points higher than at Kean (928)
  • Accepted freshman Kean students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) 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 Kean (82.6%)

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

Which is better, Kean 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 Kean.

  • The graduation rate at Kean is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (49% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from William Paterson University of New Jersey earn on average $100 more per year than Kean graduates after ten years. ($46,500 vs. $46,400)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Kean graduates. ($24,500 vs. $25,000)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Kean graduates. ($253 vs. $258)
  • More William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kean students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 52%)

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