William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Purchase College

Deciding between William Paterson University of New Jersey and SUNY at Purchase College? 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
SUNY at Purchase College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Setting
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Type
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • Purchase College #351
  • Religious Affiliation
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • Purchase College -
  • Status
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • Purchase College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Purchase College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Room & Board
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Average Net Price
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Average Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%
  • Purchase College 72%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Calculate
  • Purchase College Calculate
  • Applied
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Admitted
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Acceptance Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Enrolled
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Purchase College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • Purchase College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Purchase College Low
  • ACT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Purchase College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • Purchase College 1185/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Purchase College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 46%
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $46,500
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 59%
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $24,500
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $253
  • Purchase College $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • Purchase College 42%
  • % Women
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • Purchase College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • Purchase College High
  • HBCU
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • Purchase College No
  • % White
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • Purchase College 55%
  • % Asian
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • Purchase College 4%
  • % Black
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • Purchase College 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • Purchase College 18%
  • % Native American
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Purchase College 5%
  • % International
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Purchase College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Purchase College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • Purchase College 79%
  • % Out-of-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%
  • Purchase College 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare William Paterson University of New Jersey in Wayne, NJ with SUNY at Purchase College in Purchase, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (9,942 students vs. 3,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is located in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting); SUNY at Purchase College is in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1; SUNY at Purchase College 12:1.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Purchase College? 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 Purchase College ($13,509 vs. $18,211).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 1.2% lower than at SUNY at Purchase College ($16,240 vs. $16,436).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is 75.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $6,751 more per year; $15,704.00 vs. $8,953.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32% higher at William Paterson University of New Jersey than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $6,141 more per year; $25,344.00 vs. $19,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than at SUNY at Purchase College (86% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students is 44.2% larger than aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students ($15,040 vs. $10,432).

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Purchase College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY at Purchase College (1280) is 110 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; SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSUNY at Purchase College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional; Purchase College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027; Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purchase College students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) 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 Purchase College (74%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • SUNY at Purchase College's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
  • Graduates from William Paterson University of New Jersey earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,500 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY at Purchase College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($22,500 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, Purchase College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($232 vs. $253).
  • More Purchase College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (65% 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.