Salisbury vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Deciding between Salisbury 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.

Salisbury University
William Paterson University of New Jersey

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • Setting
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • Type
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Salisbury #352
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Salisbury -
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • Status
  • Salisbury Non-profit
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Salisbury
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • Room & Board
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • Average Net Price
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Salisbury 88%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Salisbury Calculate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Calculate
  • Applied
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • Admitted
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salisbury 1250
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salisbury 24
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Average High School GPA
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Salisbury A-
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Salisbury
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • ACT Range
  • Salisbury 20/29
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • SAT Range
  • Salisbury 1180/1320
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Salisbury 67%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $46,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Salisbury 68%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $24,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Salisbury $208
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $253

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Salisbury 42%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • % Women
  • Salisbury 58%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Salisbury Medium
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • HBCU
  • Salisbury No
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • % White
  • Salisbury 71%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • % Asian
  • Salisbury 3%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • % Black
  • Salisbury 13%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Salisbury 4%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • % Native American
  • Salisbury 1%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Salisbury 0%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Salisbury 4%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • % International
  • Salisbury 1%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Salisbury 3%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Salisbury 82%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Salisbury 17%
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD 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 Salisbury based on total student enrollment (9,942 students vs. 7,025 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); William Paterson University of New Jersey is in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1.

Salisbury vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salisbury 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 Salisbury ($13,509 vs. $18,760).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 14.4% lower than at William Paterson University of New Jersey ($13,900 vs. $16,240).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is 41.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $4,620 more per year; $15,704.00 vs. $11,084.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at William Paterson University of New Jersey than at Salisbury University (about $3,170 more per year; $25,344.00 vs. $22,174.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salisbury University than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (88% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students is 64.8% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($15,040 vs. $9,124).

Salisbury vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salisbury 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 Salisbury.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Salisbury University (1250) is 80 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (1170).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 1180/1320; William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 20/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salisbury - Test optional; William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027; William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Salisbury students have a 0.76 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) 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 Salisbury (87.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey.

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

How do outcomes compare for Salisbury 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).

  • Salisbury University's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
  • Graduates from Salisbury University earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,000 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $4,347 lower median loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($20,153 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($208 vs. $253).
  • More Salisbury 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.