William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Jefferson

Deciding between William Paterson University of New Jersey and Thomas Jefferson 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • Jefferson Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • Jefferson Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • Jefferson 8,238
  • Type
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • Jefferson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • Jefferson
  • Religious Affiliation
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • Jefferson -
  • Status
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • Jefferson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Jefferson
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • Jefferson $47,505
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • Jefferson $47,505
  • Room & Board
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • Jefferson $15,834
  • Average Net Price
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • Jefferson $29,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • Jefferson $35,007
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%
  • Jefferson 100%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Calculate
  • Jefferson Calculate
  • Applied
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • Jefferson 7,087
  • Admitted
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • Jefferson 5,738
  • Acceptance Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • Jefferson 81%
  • Enrolled
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • Jefferson 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • Jefferson 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Jefferson 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • Jefferson 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • Jefferson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • Jefferson Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Jefferson
  • ACT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Jefferson 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • Jefferson 1160/1330
  • Submit Test Scores
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • Jefferson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027
  • Jefferson Jul 31, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • Jefferson 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Jefferson
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 46%
  • Jefferson -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $46,500
  • Jefferson $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 59%
  • Jefferson 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $24,500
  • Jefferson $12,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $253
  • Jefferson $129
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • Jefferson 27%
  • % Women
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • Jefferson 73%
  • Racial Diversity
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • Jefferson Low
  • HBCU
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • Jefferson No
  • % White
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • Jefferson 72%
  • % Asian
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • Jefferson 9%
  • % Black
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • Jefferson 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • Jefferson 1%
  • % Native American
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Jefferson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Jefferson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Jefferson 3%
  • % International
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Jefferson 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Jefferson 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • Jefferson 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%
  • Jefferson 36%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare William Paterson University of New Jersey in Wayne, NJ with Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than Jefferson based on total student enrollment (9,942 students vs. 8,238 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is located in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Thomas Jefferson University is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas Jefferson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1; Thomas Jefferson University 12:1.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Jefferson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William Paterson University of New Jersey or Jefferson? 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 Jefferson ($13,509 vs. $29,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Jefferson University are 2.5% lower than at William Paterson University of New Jersey ($15,834 vs. $16,240).
  • Thomas Jefferson University is 202.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $31,801 more per year; $47,505.00 vs. $15,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 87.4% higher at Jefferson than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $22,161 more per year; $47,505.00 vs. $25,344.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas Jefferson University than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (100% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas Jefferson University students is 132.8% larger than aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students ($35,007 vs. $15,040).

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Jefferson Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Thomas Jefferson University (1250) is 80 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; Thomas Jefferson University 1160/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsThomas Jefferson University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional; Jefferson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027; Jefferson Jul 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Jefferson students have a 0.76 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) 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 Jefferson (81%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. 12.1% at Jefferson.

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

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

  • Graduates from Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of about $76,400 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Thomas Jefferson University graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($12,500 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, Jefferson graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($129 vs. $253).
  • More Jefferson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.