William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Dakota State

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey Dakota State
Location Wayne, NJ Madison, SD
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 9,426 3,508
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #596 #813
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wpunj.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

William Paterson University of New Jersey Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $14,690 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $24,004 $10,718
Room & Board $15,990 $8,990
Avg Net Price $16,999 $19,115
Avg Grant Aid $13,984 $5,263
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 87%

Admission

William Paterson University of New Jersey Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,754 988
Admitted 7,174 967
Acceptance Rate 92.5% 97.9%
Enrolled % 12.3% 40.7%
Avg High School GPA 2.97 3.33
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26
SAT Range 990/1345 1020/1340
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, 2025

Academics

William Paterson University of New Jersey Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

William Paterson University of New Jersey Dakota State
Graduation Rate 46% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,500 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $253 $242

Diversity

William Paterson University of New Jersey Dakota State
% Men 7% 12%
% Women 24% 4%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 43% 84%
% Black 16% 4%
% Hispanic 27% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

William Paterson University of New Jersey Dakota State
% In-State 89% 56%
% Out-of-State 6% 38%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than than Dakota State based on total student enrollment (9,426 students vs. 3,508 students)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

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

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is 92.9% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($14,690.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 124% higher at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Dakota State University ($24,004.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Dakota State ($16,999 vs. $19,115)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 77.9% lower than costs at William Paterson University of New Jersey ($8,990 vs. $15,990)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dakota State University than William Paterson University of New Jersey (87% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students is 165.7% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($13,984 vs. $5,263)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Dakota State University (1047) is 57 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990)
  • Accepted freshman Dakota State students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (2.97)
  • Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than William Paterson University of New Jersey (92.5%)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at William Paterson University of New Jersey is higher than Dakota State University (46% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from William Paterson University of New Jersey earn on average $4,300 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($46,500 vs. $42,200)
  • Dakota State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($23,500 vs. $24,500)
  • Dakota State graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($242 vs. $253)
  • More Dakota State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 59%)

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