William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Bennington

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey Bennington
Location Wayne, NJ Bennington, VT
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 9,426 867
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #596
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wpunj.edu bennington.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

William Paterson University of New Jersey Bennington
Tuition (In State) $14,690 $63,802
Tuition (Out of State) $24,004 $63,802
Room & Board $15,990 $18,640
Avg Net Price $16,999 $35,108
Avg Grant Aid $13,984 $47,860
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 98%

Admission

William Paterson University of New Jersey Bennington
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,754 2,825
Admitted 7,174 1,357
Acceptance Rate 92.5% 48%
Enrolled % 12.3% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 2.97 3.51
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/32
SAT Range 990/1345 1290/1413
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 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

William Paterson University of New Jersey Bennington
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (39%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

Outcomes

William Paterson University of New Jersey Bennington
Graduation Rate 46% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,500 $31,700
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $253 $268

Diversity

William Paterson University of New Jersey Bennington
% Men 7% 2%
% Women 24% 8%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 43% 65%
% Black 16% 2%
% Hispanic 27% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 0% 13%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

William Paterson University of New Jersey Bennington
% In-State 89% 2%
% Out-of-State 6% 87%

Campus

William Paterson University of New Jersey Bennington
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 Bennington based on total student enrollment (9,426 students vs. 867 students)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Bennington Cost Comparison

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

  • Bennington College is 334.3% more expensive to attend than William Paterson University of New Jersey for in-state tuition ($63,802.00 vs. $14,690.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 165.8% higher at Bennington than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($63,802.00 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 Bennington ($16,999 vs. $35,108)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 16.6% lower than costs at Bennington College ($15,990 vs. $18,640)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bennington College than William Paterson University of New Jersey (98% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bennington College students is 242.2% larger than aid received William Paterson University of New Jersey ($47,860 vs. $13,984)

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

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

  • Accepted freshman Bennington students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) 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 Bennington (48%)

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

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

  • The graduation rate at Bennington is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (67% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from William Paterson University of New Jersey earn on average $14,800 more per year than Bennington graduates after ten years. ($46,500 vs. $31,700)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Bennington graduates. ($24,500 vs. $26,000)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Bennington graduates. ($253 vs. $268)
  • More Bennington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 59%)

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