TU vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey

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

TU William Paterson University of New Jersey
Location Towson, MD Wayne, NJ
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 19,527 9,426
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #375 #596
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website towson.edu wpunj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

TU William Paterson University of New Jersey
Tuition (In State) $7,382 $14,690
Tuition (Out of State) $24,402 $24,004
Room & Board $15,644 $15,990
Avg Net Price $15,064 $16,999
Avg Grant Aid $11,565 $13,984
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 83%

Admission

TU William Paterson University of New Jersey
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,948 7,754
Admitted 15,689 7,174
Acceptance Rate 82.8% 92.5%
Enrolled % 19.2% 12.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 2.97
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/28
SAT Range 1050/1270 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 Apr 1, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

TU William Paterson University of New Jersey
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

TU William Paterson University of New Jersey
Graduation Rate 64% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,500 $46,500
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,750 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $183 $253

Diversity

TU William Paterson University of New Jersey
% Men 4% 7%
% Women 12% 24%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 61% 43%
% Black 18% 16%
% Hispanic 6% 27%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

TU William Paterson University of New Jersey
% In-State 90% 89%
% Out-of-State 9% 6%

Campus

TU 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 Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Towson University is larger than than William Paterson University of New Jersey based on total student enrollment (19,527 students vs. 9,426 students)

TU vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Cost Comparison

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

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is 99% more expensive to attend than TU for in-state tuition ($14,690.00 vs. $7,382.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.7% higher at TU than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($24,402.00 vs. $24,004.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Towson University than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($15,064 vs. $16,999)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Towson University are 2.2% lower than costs at William Paterson University of New Jersey ($15,644 vs. $15,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Towson University (83% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students is 20.9% larger than aid received Towson University ($13,984 vs. $11,565)

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

Which college is harder to get into, TU 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 TU .

  • The average SAT score at Towson University (1081) is 91 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990)
  • Accepted freshman TU students have a 0.72 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (2.97)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than TU (82.8%)

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

Which is better, TU 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 TU.

  • The graduation rate at TU is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (64% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Towson University earn on average $7,000 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates after ten years. ($53,500 vs. $46,500)
  • Towson University students graduate with a $6,750 lower median federal student loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($17,750 vs. $24,500)
  • TU graduates are paying $70 less per month on federal student loans than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($183 vs. $253)
  • More TU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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