William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Wilkes

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

William Paterson University of New Jersey Wilkes
Location Wayne, NJ Wilkes-Barre, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 9,070 5,207
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #557 #478
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wpunj.edu wilkes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

William Paterson University of New Jersey Wilkes
Tuition (In State) $14,192 $39,134
Tuition (Out of State) $23,192 $39,134
Room & Board $13,160 $15,850
Avg Net Price $12,967 $27,918
Avg Grant Aid $10,919 $29,441
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 97%

Admission

William Paterson University of New Jersey Wilkes
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,062 4,798
Admitted 6,464 4,517
Acceptance Rate 91.5% 94.1%
Enrolled % 12.5% 10.6%
Avg High School GPA 2.97 3.56
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26
SAT Range 990/1345 1060/1260
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, 2025

Academics

William Paterson University of New Jersey Wilkes
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

William Paterson University of New Jersey Wilkes
Graduation Rate 46% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,500 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $253 $268

Diversity

William Paterson University of New Jersey Wilkes
% Men 35% 31%
% Women 65% 69%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 43% 73%
% Black 16% 4%
% Hispanic 27% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 0% 9%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

William Paterson University of New Jersey Wilkes
% In-State 92% 75%
% Out-of-State 6% 24%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • William Paterson University of New Jersey is larger than than Wilkes based on total student enrollment (9,070 students vs. 5,207 students)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

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

  • Wilkes University is 175.7% more expensive to attend than William Paterson University of New Jersey for in-state tuition ($39,134.00 vs. $14,192.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 68.7% higher at Wilkes than William Paterson University of New Jersey ($39,134.00 vs. $23,192.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Paterson University of New Jersey than Wilkes ($12,967 vs. $27,918)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 20.4% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($13,160 vs. $15,850)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wilkes University than William Paterson University of New Jersey (97% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 169.6% larger than aid received William Paterson University of New Jersey ($29,441 vs. $10,919)

William Paterson University of New Jersey vs. Wilkes Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wilkes University (1053) is 63 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (990)
  • Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (2.97)
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (94.1%) than William Paterson University of New Jersey (91.5%)

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

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

  • The graduation rate at Wilkes is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey (58% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn on average $11,700 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $46,500)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Wilkes graduates. ($24,500 vs. $26,000)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Wilkes graduates. ($253 vs. $268)
  • More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/