William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Old Dominion

Deciding between William Paterson University of New Jersey and Old Dominion University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

William Paterson University of New Jersey
Old Dominion University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • Old Dominion Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • Old Dominion Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • Old Dominion 23,743
  • Type
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • Old Dominion Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • Old Dominion #477
  • Religious Affiliation
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • Old Dominion -
  • Status
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • Old Dominion Non-profit
  • Website
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey wpunj.edu
  • Old Dominion odu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Old Dominion

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • Old Dominion $12,750
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • Old Dominion $33,780
  • Room & Board
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • Old Dominion $14,878
  • Average Net Price
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • Old Dominion $16,419
  • Average Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • Old Dominion $11,740
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%
  • Old Dominion 94%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Calculate
  • Old Dominion Calculate
  • Applied
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • Old Dominion 15,100
  • Admitted
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • Old Dominion 13,645
  • Acceptance Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • Old Dominion 90.4%
  • Enrolled
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • Old Dominion 19.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • Old Dominion 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Old Dominion 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • Old Dominion 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • Old Dominion B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • Old Dominion Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Old Dominion
  • ACT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Old Dominion 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • Old Dominion 1100/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • Old Dominion Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027
  • Old Dominion Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • Old Dominion 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Old Dominion
    • Business (19%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 46%
  • Old Dominion 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $46,500
  • Old Dominion $47,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 59%
  • Old Dominion 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $24,500
  • Old Dominion $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $253
  • Old Dominion $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • Old Dominion 44%
  • % Women
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • Old Dominion 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • Old Dominion High
  • HBCU
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • Old Dominion No
  • % White
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • Old Dominion 47%
  • % Asian
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • Old Dominion 4%
  • % Black
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • Old Dominion 27%
  • % Hispanic
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • Old Dominion 7%
  • % Native American
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Old Dominion 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Old Dominion 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Old Dominion 6%
  • % International
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Old Dominion 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Old Dominion 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • Old Dominion 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%
  • Old Dominion 7%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare William Paterson University of New Jersey in Wayne, NJ with Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Old Dominion University is larger than William Paterson University of New Jersey based on total student enrollment (23,743 students vs. 9,942 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is located in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Old Dominion University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Old Dominion University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1; Old Dominion University 13:1.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Old Dominion Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Old Dominion? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Old Dominion ($13,509 vs. $16,419).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Old Dominion University are 8.4% lower than at William Paterson University of New Jersey ($14,878 vs. $16,240).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is 23.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Old Dominion (about $2,954 more per year; $15,704.00 vs. $12,750.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.3% higher at Old Dominion than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $8,436 more per year; $33,780.00 vs. $25,344.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Old Dominion University than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (94% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students is 28.1% larger than aid received by Old Dominion University students ($15,040 vs. $11,740).

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Old Dominion Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Old Dominion? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Old Dominion and William Paterson University of New Jersey.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Old Dominion University (1190) is 20 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (1170).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345; Old Dominion University 1100/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsOld Dominion University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional; Old Dominion - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027; Old Dominion Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Old Dominion students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (2.97).
  • Old Dominion has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than William Paterson University of New Jersey (90.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. 19.9% at Old Dominion.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Old Dominion Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for William Paterson University of New Jersey and Old Dominion? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Old Dominion University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
  • Graduates from Old Dominion University earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,600 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Old Dominion University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($23,500 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, Old Dominion graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($242 vs. $253).
  • More William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Old Dominion students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.