William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. RISD

Deciding between William Paterson University of New Jersey and Rhode Island School of Design? 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
Rhode Island School of Design

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 46%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $46,500
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 59%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $24,500
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $253
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare William Paterson University of New Jersey in Wayne, NJ with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (9,942 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is located in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William Paterson University of New Jersey or RISD? 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 RISD ($13,509 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 2.3% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($16,240 vs. $16,626).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 299.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $46,984 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $15,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 147.3% higher at RISD than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $37,344 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $25,344.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than at Rhode Island School of Design (86% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 154.1% larger than aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students ($38,223 vs. $15,040).

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. RISD Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 290 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; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.74 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (2.97).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey has a higher acceptance rate (90.1%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. 41.5% at RISD.

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

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

  • Rhode Island School of Design's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($24,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($253 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.