William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Fordham

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey Fordham
Location Wayne, NJ Bronx, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 9,070 16,556
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #557 #118
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wpunj.edu fordham.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

William Paterson University of New Jersey Fordham
Tuition (In State) $14,192 $56,920
Tuition (Out of State) $23,192 $56,920
Room & Board $13,160 $21,060
Avg Net Price $12,967 $43,943
Avg Grant Aid $10,919 $33,129
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 96%

Admission

William Paterson University of New Jersey Fordham
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,062 47,203
Admitted 6,464 25,550
Acceptance Rate 91.5% 54.1%
Enrolled % 12.5% 10.2%
Avg High School GPA 2.97 3.67
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/33
SAT Range 990/1345 1320/1480
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 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

William Paterson University of New Jersey Fordham
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

William Paterson University of New Jersey Fordham
Graduation Rate 46% 78%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,500 $64,200
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 Fordham
% Men 35% 38%
% Women 65% 62%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 59%
% Black 16% 4%
% Hispanic 27% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

William Paterson University of New Jersey Fordham
% In-State 92% 35%
% Out-of-State 6% 56%

Campus

William Paterson University of New Jersey Fordham
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

  • Fordham University is larger than than William Paterson University of New Jersey based on total student enrollment (16,556 students vs. 9,070 students)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

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

  • Fordham University is 301.1% more expensive to attend than William Paterson University of New Jersey for in-state tuition ($56,920.00 vs. $14,192.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 145.4% higher at Fordham than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($56,920.00 vs. $23,192.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Fordham ($12,967 vs. $43,943)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 60% lower than costs at Fordham University ($13,160 vs. $21,060)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fordham University than William Paterson University of New Jersey (96% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fordham University students is 203.4% larger than aid received William Paterson University of New Jersey ($33,129 vs. $10,919)

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

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

  • The average SAT score at Fordham University (1273) is 283 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990)
  • Accepted freshman Fordham students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (2.97)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey has a higher acceptance rate (91.5%) than Fordham (54.1%)

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

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

  • The graduation rate at Fordham is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (78% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Fordham University earn on average $17,700 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates after ten years. ($64,200 vs. $46,500)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Fordham graduates. ($24,500 vs. $26,000)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Fordham graduates. ($253 vs. $268)
  • More Fordham 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/