William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. JMU

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey JMU
Location Wayne, NJ Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 9,070 22,224
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #557 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wpunj.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

William Paterson University of New Jersey JMU
Tuition (In State) $14,192 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $23,192 $24,744
Room & Board $13,160 $12,040
Avg Net Price $12,967 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $10,919 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 33%

Admission

William Paterson University of New Jersey JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,062 30,727
Admitted 6,464 24,062
Acceptance Rate 91.5% 78.3%
Enrolled % 12.5% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 2.97 3.57
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29
SAT Range 990/1345 1140/1320
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 15, 2025

Academics

William Paterson University of New Jersey JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

William Paterson University of New Jersey JMU
Graduation Rate 46% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,500 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $253 $216

Diversity

William Paterson University of New Jersey JMU
% Men 35% 42%
% Women 65% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 43% 76%
% Black 16% 4%
% Hispanic 27% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

William Paterson University of New Jersey JMU
% In-State 92% 73%
% Out-of-State 6% 26%

Campus

William Paterson University of New Jersey JMU
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

  • James Madison University is larger than than William Paterson University of New Jersey based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 9,070 students)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. JMU Cost Comparison

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

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is 84.7% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($14,192.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.7% higher at JMU than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($24,744.00 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 JMU ($12,967 vs. $18,274)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 9.3% lower than costs at William Paterson University of New Jersey ($12,040 vs. $13,160)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than James Madison University (95% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students is 8.3% larger than aid received James Madison University ($10,919 vs. $10,081)

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

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

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 144 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990)
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) 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 JMU (78.3%)

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

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

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (81% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $13,800 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $46,500)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $3,601 lower median federal student loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($20,899 vs. $24,500)
  • JMU graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates. ($216 vs. $253)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 59%)

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