William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. RISD

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey RISD
Location Wayne, NJ Providence, RI
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 9,070 2,620
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #557 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wpunj.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

William Paterson University of New Jersey RISD
Tuition (In State) $14,192 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $23,192 $56,435
Room & Board $13,160 $15,234
Avg Net Price $12,967 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $10,919 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 34%

Admission

William Paterson University of New Jersey RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,062 5,099
Admitted 6,464 888
Acceptance Rate 91.5% 17.4%
Enrolled % 12.5% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 2.97 3.71
Typical High School Grades B- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 29/33
SAT Range 990/1345 1340/1525
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 RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

William Paterson University of New Jersey RISD
% Men 35% 33%
% Women 65% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 43% 31%
% Black 16% 2%
% Hispanic 27% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 0% 26%
% Unknown Race 3% 8%

Students

William Paterson University of New Jersey RISD
% In-State 92% 1%
% Out-of-State 6% 58%

Campus

William Paterson University of New Jersey RISD
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

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (9,070 students vs. 2,620 students)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. RISD Cost Comparison

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

  • Rhode Island School of Design is 297.7% more expensive to attend than William Paterson University of New Jersey for in-state tuition ($56,435.00 vs. $14,192.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 143.3% higher at RISD than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($56,435.00 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 RISD ($12,967 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 15.8% lower than costs at Rhode Island School of Design ($13,160 vs. $15,234)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Rhode Island School of Design (95% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 243.3% larger than aid received William Paterson University of New Jersey ($37,480 vs. $10,919)

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

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

  • The average SAT score at Rhode Island School of Design (1273) is 283 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990)
  • 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 (91.5%) than RISD (17.4%)

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

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

  • The graduation rate at RISD is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (87% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn on average $4,600 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates after ten years. ($51,100 vs. $46,500)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($24,500 vs. $27,000)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans 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/