William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Arcadia

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey Arcadia
Location Wayne, NJ Glenside, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 9,426 3,142
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #596 #471
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wpunj.edu arcadia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

William Paterson University of New Jersey Arcadia
Tuition (In State) $14,690 $47,590
Tuition (Out of State) $24,004 $47,590
Room & Board $15,990 $16,250
Avg Net Price $16,999 $26,994
Avg Grant Aid $13,984 $34,234
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 100%

Admission

William Paterson University of New Jersey Arcadia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,754 6,688
Admitted 7,174 5,296
Acceptance Rate 92.5% 79.2%
Enrolled % 12.3% 7.9%
Avg High School GPA 2.97 3.42
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/30
SAT Range 990/1345 1083/1310
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 Jun 1, 2026

Academics

William Paterson University of New Jersey Arcadia
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

William Paterson University of New Jersey Arcadia
Graduation Rate 46% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,500 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $253 $279

Diversity

William Paterson University of New Jersey Arcadia
% Men 7% 11%
% Women 24% 28%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 43% 68%
% Black 16% 9%
% Hispanic 27% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

William Paterson University of New Jersey Arcadia
% In-State 89% 66%
% Out-of-State 6% 32%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (9,426 students vs. 3,142 students)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison

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

  • Arcadia University is 224% more expensive to attend than William Paterson University of New Jersey for in-state tuition ($47,590.00 vs. $14,690.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 98.3% higher at Arcadia than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($47,590.00 vs. $24,004.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Arcadia ($16,999 vs. $26,994)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 1.6% lower than costs at Arcadia University ($15,990 vs. $16,250)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than William Paterson University of New Jersey (100% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 144.8% larger than aid received William Paterson University of New Jersey ($34,234 vs. $13,984)

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

Which college is harder to get into, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Arcadia? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Arcadia or William Paterson University of New Jersey .

  • The average SAT score at Arcadia University (1104) is 114 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990)
  • Accepted freshman Arcadia students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) 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 Arcadia (79.2%)

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

Which is better, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Arcadia? 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 Arcadia and William Paterson University of New Jersey.

  • The graduation rate at Arcadia is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (62% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from William Paterson University of New Jersey earn on average $100 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($46,500 vs. $46,400)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($24,500 vs. $27,000)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($253 vs. $279)
  • More Arcadia 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/