Rider University vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Deciding between Rider 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.

Rider University
William Paterson University of New Jersey

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • Setting
  • Rider University Large Suburban
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rider University 4,003
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • Type
  • Rider University Private 4 Year
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rider University #307
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rider University -
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • Status
  • Rider University Non-profit
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rider University
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rider University $41,120
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rider University $41,120
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • Room & Board
  • Rider University $17,230
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • Average Net Price
  • Rider University $26,506
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rider University $29,294
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rider University 100%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Rider University Calculate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Calculate
  • Applied
  • Rider University 10,071
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • Admitted
  • Rider University 7,920
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rider University 78.6%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Rider University 9.1%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rider University 1210
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rider University 29
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rider University 3.41
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rider University B+
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rider University Difficult
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rider University
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • ACT Range
  • Rider University 27/31
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • SAT Range
  • Rider University 1100/1320
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rider University Test optional
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rider University
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rider University 14:1
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rider University
    • Business (34%)
    • Education (15%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rider University 63%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rider University $53,000
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $46,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rider University 73%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rider University $25,750
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $24,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rider University $266
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $253

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rider University 41%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • % Women
  • Rider University 59%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rider University Medium
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • HBCU
  • Rider University No
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • % White
  • Rider University 62%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • % Asian
  • Rider University 5%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • % Black
  • Rider University 12%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rider University 12%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • % Native American
  • Rider University 0%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rider University 0%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rider University 3%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • % International
  • Rider University 3%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rider University 2%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rider University 73%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rider University 23%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than Rider University based on total student enrollment (9,942 students vs. 4,003 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rider University is located in Lawrenceville, NJ (Large Suburban setting); William Paterson University of New Jersey is in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rider 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: Rider University 14:1; William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Rider University 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 Rider University ($13,509 vs. $26,506).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 5.7% lower than at Rider University ($16,240 vs. $17,230).
  • Rider University is 161.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $25,416 more per year; $41,120.00 vs. $15,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 62.2% higher at Rider University than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $15,776 more per year; $41,120.00 vs. $25,344.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rider University than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (100% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rider University students is 94.8% larger than aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students ($29,294 vs. $15,040).

Rider University vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rider University (1210) is 40 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (1170).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rider University 1100/1320; William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rider University 27/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rider University - Test optional; William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Rider University students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) 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 Rider University (78.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.1% at Rider University vs. 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey.

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

How do outcomes compare for Rider University 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).

  • Rider University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
  • Graduates from Rider University earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,000 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Rider University graduates ($24,500 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rider University graduates ($253 vs. $266).
  • More Rider University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.