William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Mason

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey Mason
Location Wayne, NJ Fairfax, VA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 9,070 39,049
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #557 #228
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wpunj.edu gmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

William Paterson University of New Jersey Mason
Tuition (In State) $14,192 $9,795
Tuition (Out of State) $23,192 $35,377
Room & Board $13,160 $13,120
Avg Net Price $12,967 $18,479
Avg Grant Aid $10,919 $10,760
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 74%

Admission

William Paterson University of New Jersey Mason
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,062 20,001
Admitted 6,464 18,001
Acceptance Rate 91.5% 90%
Enrolled % 12.5% 23%
Avg High School GPA 2.97 3.68
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31
SAT Range 990/1345 1140/1350
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

William Paterson University of New Jersey Mason
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

William Paterson University of New Jersey Mason
Graduation Rate 46% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,500 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $253 $204

Diversity

William Paterson University of New Jersey Mason
% Men 35% 48%
% Women 65% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 43%
% Black 16% 11%
% Hispanic 27% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

William Paterson University of New Jersey Mason
% In-State 92% 77%
% Out-of-State 6% 17%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Mason University is larger than than William Paterson University of New Jersey based on total student enrollment (39,049 students vs. 9,070 students)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Mason Cost Comparison

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

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is 44.9% more expensive to attend than Mason for in-state tuition ($14,192.00 vs. $9,795.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 52.5% higher at Mason than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($35,377.00 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 Mason ($12,967 vs. $18,479)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Mason University are 0.3% lower than costs at William Paterson University of New Jersey ($13,120 vs. $13,160)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than George Mason University (95% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students is 1.5% larger than aid received George Mason University ($10,919 vs. $10,760)

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

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

  • The average SAT score at George Mason University (1153) is 163 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990)
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.71 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) 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 Mason (90%)

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

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

  • The graduation rate at Mason is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (64% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn on average $15,400 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $46,500)
  • George Mason University students graduate with a $4,750 lower median federal student loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($19,750 vs. $24,500)
  • Mason graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($204 vs. $253)
  • More Mason graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 59%)

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