TCNJ vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey

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

TCNJ William Paterson University of New Jersey
Location Ewing, NJ Wayne, NJ
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 7,629 9,070
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #175 #557
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website tcnj.edu wpunj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

TCNJ William Paterson University of New Jersey
Tuition (In State) $14,140 $14,192
Tuition (Out of State) $26,934 $23,192
Room & Board $14,144 $13,160
Avg Net Price $22,273 $12,967
Avg Grant Aid $11,826 $10,919
% Receiving Grant Aid 58% 95%

Admission

TCNJ William Paterson University of New Jersey
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,302 7,062
Admitted 6,638 6,464
Acceptance Rate 64.4% 91.5%
Enrolled % 23.8% 12.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 2.97
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/30
SAT Range 1140/1350 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 Feb 1, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

TCNJ William Paterson University of New Jersey
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

TCNJ William Paterson University of New Jersey
Graduation Rate 87% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $62,100 $46,500
Making Student Loan Payments 85% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $240 $253

Diversity

TCNJ William Paterson University of New Jersey
% Men 42% 35%
% Women 58% 65%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 43%
% Black 6% 16%
% Hispanic 12% 27%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 5% 3%

Students

TCNJ William Paterson University of New Jersey
% In-State 95% 92%
% Out-of-State 5% 6%

Campus

TCNJ 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 TCNJ based on total student enrollment (9,070 students vs. 7,629 students)

TCNJ vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Cost Comparison

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

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is 0.4% more expensive to attend than TCNJ for in-state tuition ($14,192.00 vs. $14,140.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.1% higher at TCNJ than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($26,934.00 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 TCNJ ($12,967 vs. $22,273)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 7.5% lower than costs at The College of New Jersey ($13,160 vs. $14,144)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than The College of New Jersey (95% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of New Jersey students is 8.3% larger than aid received William Paterson University of New Jersey ($11,826 vs. $10,919)

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

Which college is harder to get into, TCNJ 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 TCNJ .

  • The average SAT score at The College of New Jersey (1227) is 237 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990)
  • Accepted freshman TCNJ students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.29) 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 TCNJ (64.4%)

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

Which is better, TCNJ 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 TCNJ.

  • The graduation rate at TCNJ is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (87% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn on average $15,600 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $46,500)
  • The College of New Jersey students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,500)
  • TCNJ graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($240 vs. $253)
  • More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 59%)

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