William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Penn State

Deciding between William Paterson University of New Jersey and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Website
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey wpunj.edu
  • Penn State psu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Calculate
  • Penn State Calculate
  • Applied
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 46%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $46,500
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 59%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $24,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $253
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare William Paterson University of New Jersey in Wayne, NJ with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than William Paterson University of New Jersey based on total student enrollment (50,737 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); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Penn State? 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 Penn State ($13,509 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 10.9% lower than at William Paterson University of New Jersey ($14,474 vs. $16,240).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 31.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $4,940 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $15,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 64.9% higher at Penn State than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $16,446 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $25,344.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than at Penn State Main Campus (86% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students is 32.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($15,040 vs. $11,336).

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Penn State? 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 Penn State and William Paterson University of New Jersey.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 160 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; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027.
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey has a higher acceptance rate (90.1%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

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

How do outcomes compare for William Paterson University of New Jersey and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have a $2,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($24,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($253 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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.