William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. University of Scranton

Deciding between William Paterson University of New Jersey and University of Scranton? 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
University of Scranton

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ
  • University of Scranton Scranton, PA
  • Setting
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Large Suburban
  • University of Scranton Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,942
  • University of Scranton 4,724
  • Type
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Public 4 Year
  • University of Scranton Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey #595
  • University of Scranton #219
  • Religious Affiliation
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey -
  • University of Scranton Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Non-profit
  • University of Scranton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • University of Scranton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,704
  • University of Scranton $53,983
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $25,344
  • University of Scranton $53,983
  • Room & Board
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $16,240
  • University of Scranton $17,380
  • Average Net Price
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $13,509
  • University of Scranton $34,234
  • Average Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $15,040
  • University of Scranton $35,606
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 86%
  • University of Scranton 96%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Calculate
  • University of Scranton Calculate
  • Applied
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 9,165
  • University of Scranton 9,666
  • Admitted
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 8,256
  • University of Scranton 7,852
  • Acceptance Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 90.1%
  • University of Scranton 81.2%
  • Enrolled
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 12.6%
  • University of Scranton 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 1170
  • University of Scranton 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • University of Scranton 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 2.97
  • University of Scranton 3.56
  • Typical High School Grades
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey B
  • University of Scranton A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Difficult
  • University of Scranton Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • University of Scranton
  • ACT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • University of Scranton 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345
  • University of Scranton 1160/1318
  • Submit Test Scores
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Test optional
  • University of Scranton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027
  • University of Scranton Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1
  • University of Scranton 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • University of Scranton
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 46%
  • University of Scranton 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $46,500
  • University of Scranton $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 59%
  • University of Scranton 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $24,500
  • University of Scranton $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey $253
  • University of Scranton $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 33%
  • University of Scranton 43%
  • % Women
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 67%
  • University of Scranton 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey High
  • University of Scranton Very Low
  • HBCU
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey No
  • University of Scranton No
  • % White
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 43%
  • University of Scranton 82%
  • % Asian
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 7%
  • University of Scranton 2%
  • % Black
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 16%
  • University of Scranton 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 27%
  • University of Scranton 9%
  • % Native American
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • University of Scranton 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • University of Scranton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • University of Scranton 2%
  • % International
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 0%
  • University of Scranton 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 3%
  • University of Scranton 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 92%
  • University of Scranton 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey 5%
  • University of Scranton 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than University of Scranton based on total student enrollment (9,942 students vs. 4,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is located in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting); University of Scranton is in Scranton, PA (Small City setting).
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Scranton is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1; University of Scranton 11:1.

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. University of Scranton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William Paterson University of New Jersey or University of Scranton? 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 University of Scranton ($13,509 vs. $34,234).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 6.6% lower than at University of Scranton ($16,240 vs. $17,380).
  • University of Scranton is 243.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $38,279 more per year; $53,983.00 vs. $15,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 113% higher at University of Scranton than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $28,639 more per year; $53,983.00 vs. $25,344.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Scranton than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (96% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Scranton students is 136.7% larger than aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students ($35,606 vs. $15,040).

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. University of Scranton Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Scranton (1240) is 70 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; University of Scranton 1160/1318.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Scranton 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional; University of Scranton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027; University of Scranton Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Scranton students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) 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 University of Scranton (81.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. 11.3% at University of Scranton.

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

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

  • University of Scranton's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
  • Graduates from University of Scranton earn a median of about $15,600 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 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 University of Scranton 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 University of Scranton graduates ($253 vs. $279).
  • More University of Scranton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.