William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Union College

Deciding between William Paterson University of New Jersey and Union 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
Union College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • Union College Schenectady, NY
  • Setting
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • Union College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • Union College 2,065
  • Type
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • Union College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • Union College #84
  • Religious Affiliation
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • Union College -
  • Status
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • Union College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Union College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • Union College $69,039
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • Union College $69,039
  • Room & Board
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • Union College $17,010
  • Average Net Price
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • Union College $42,137
  • Average Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • Union College $42,534
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%
  • Union College 96%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Calculate
  • Union College Calculate
  • Applied
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • Union College 8,210
  • Admitted
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • Union College 3,606
  • Acceptance Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • Union College 43.9%
  • Enrolled
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • Union College 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • Union College 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Union College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • Union College 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • Union College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • Union College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Union College Low
  • ACT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Union College 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • Union College 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • Union College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027
  • Union College Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • Union College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Union College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Outcomes

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

  • % Men
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • Union College 53%
  • % Women
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • Union College 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • Union College Medium
  • HBCU
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • Union College No
  • % White
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • Union College 73%
  • % Asian
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • Union College 6%
  • % Black
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • Union College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Native American
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Union College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Union College 2%
  • % International
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • Union College 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • Union College 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • Union College 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%
  • Union College 57%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than Union College based on total student enrollment (9,942 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is located in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Union College is in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1; Union College 9:1.

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? 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 Union College ($13,509 vs. $42,137).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 4.5% lower than at Union College ($16,240 vs. $17,010).
  • Union College is 339.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $53,335 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $15,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 172.4% higher at Union College than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $43,695 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $25,344.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (96% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 182.8% larger than aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students ($42,534 vs. $15,040).

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

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Union College (1400) is 230 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; Union College 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUnion College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional; Union College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027; Union College Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (90.1%) than Union College (43.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. 13.9% at Union College.

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

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

  • Union College's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
  • Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $27,700 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 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 Union College 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 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.