William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Arcadia

Deciding between William Paterson University of New Jersey and Arcadia University? 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.

William Paterson University of New Jersey
Arcadia University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • Arcadia Glenside, PA
  • Setting
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • Arcadia Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • Arcadia 3,404
  • Type
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • Arcadia Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • Arcadia #527
  • Religious Affiliation
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • Arcadia Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Status
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • Arcadia Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Arcadia
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • Arcadia $49,610
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • Arcadia $49,610
  • Room & Board
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • Arcadia $17,180
  • Average Net Price
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • Arcadia $30,037
  • Average Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • Arcadia $34,705
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%
  • Arcadia 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • Arcadia 10,163
  • Admitted
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • Arcadia 8,153
  • Acceptance Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • Arcadia 80.2%
  • Enrolled
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • Arcadia 7.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • Arcadia 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Arcadia
  • Average High School GPA
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • Arcadia 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • Arcadia B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • Arcadia Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Arcadia
  • ACT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Arcadia
  • SAT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • Arcadia 1065/1265
  • Submit Test Scores
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • Arcadia Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027
  • Arcadia
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • Arcadia 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Arcadia
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

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

  • % Men
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • Arcadia 34%
  • % Women
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • Arcadia 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • Arcadia Medium
  • HBCU
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • Arcadia No
  • % White
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • Arcadia 68%
  • % Asian
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • Arcadia 5%
  • % Black
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • Arcadia 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • Arcadia 8%
  • % Native American
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Arcadia 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Arcadia 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Arcadia 4%
  • % International
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Arcadia 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Arcadia 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • Arcadia 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%
  • Arcadia 36%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (9,942 students vs. 3,404 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is located in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Arcadia University is in Glenside, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Arcadia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1; Arcadia University 10:1.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Arcadia? 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 Arcadia ($13,509 vs. $30,037).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 5.5% lower than at Arcadia University ($16,240 vs. $17,180).
  • Arcadia University is 215.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $33,906 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $15,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 95.7% higher at Arcadia than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $24,266 more per year; $49,610.00 vs. $25,344.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arcadia University than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (99% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 130.8% larger than aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students ($34,705 vs. $15,040).

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Arcadia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Arcadia? 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 Arcadia and William Paterson University of New Jersey.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William Paterson University of New Jersey (1170) is the same as at Arcadia (1170).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345; Arcadia University 1065/1265.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional; Arcadia - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027.
  • 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 (90.1%) than Arcadia (80.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. 7.4% at Arcadia.

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

How do outcomes compare for William Paterson University of New Jersey and Arcadia? 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).

  • Arcadia University's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
  • Graduates from William Paterson University of New Jersey earn a median of about $100 more per year than Arcadia graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,500 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Arcadia graduates ($24,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.