William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Union College

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey Union College
Location Wayne, NJ Schenectady, NY
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 9,426 2,082
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #596 #87
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wpunj.edu union.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

William Paterson University of New Jersey Union College
Tuition (In State) $14,690 $66,105
Tuition (Out of State) $24,004 $66,105
Room & Board $15,990 $16,389
Avg Net Price $16,999 $42,884
Avg Grant Aid $13,984 $38,751
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 94%

Admission

William Paterson University of New Jersey Union College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,754 9,295
Admitted 7,174 4,070
Acceptance Rate 92.5% 43.8%
Enrolled % 12.3% 13.5%
Avg High School GPA 2.97 3.5
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/33
SAT Range 990/1345 1310/1480
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, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

William Paterson University of New Jersey Union College
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

William Paterson University of New Jersey Union College
Graduation Rate 46% 86%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,500 $74,200
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $253 $279

Diversity

William Paterson University of New Jersey Union College
% Men 7% 0%
% Women 24% 1%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 43% 73%
% Black 16% 4%
% Hispanic 27% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

William Paterson University of New Jersey Union College
% In-State 89% 28%
% Out-of-State 6% 63%

Campus

William Paterson University of New Jersey Union College
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 Union College based on total student enrollment (9,426 students vs. 2,082 students)

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

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

  • Union College is 350% more expensive to attend than William Paterson University of New Jersey for in-state tuition ($66,105.00 vs. $14,690.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 175.4% higher at Union College than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($66,105.00 vs. $24,004.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Union College ($16,999 vs. $42,884)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 2.5% lower than costs at Union College ($15,990 vs. $16,389)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Union College than William Paterson University of New Jersey (94% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 177.1% larger than aid received William Paterson University of New Jersey ($38,751 vs. $13,984)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Union College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Union College students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (2.97)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than Union College (43.8%)

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

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

  • The graduation rate at Union College is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (86% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Union College earn on average $27,700 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates after ten years. ($74,200 vs. $46,500)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Union College graduates. ($24,500 vs. $27,000)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Union College graduates. ($253 vs. $279)
  • More Union College 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/