William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, New Jersey · Public · 90.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 54/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
William Paterson University of New Jersey scores 54 (Below Average Value), constrained by a 44% completion rate, 9.4-year payback period, and 68.5% repayment rate. The public university in Wayne, NJ enrolls 6,614 students and charges $15,704 in-state tuition with a $18,745 net price. Average 6-year earnings of $37,300 and median debt of $22,334 produce a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.599. Registered Nursing (419 graduates, $92,257 year one) is the institutional anchor - it has an ROI grade of B+ and comprises the school's strongest financial argument. Most other programs sit in the C-D range, and Fine and Studio Arts and Music carry F grades.
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,704/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,344/yr |
| Average net price | $18,745/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $74,980 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,780 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,334 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $237 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 44.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,614 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $15,704/year ($25,344/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $18,745/year, or roughly $74,980 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $16,171/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,917/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,334, which works out to about $237 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,300) and comes to 0.60, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,171 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,287 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,505 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,862 |
| $110,001+ | $24,917 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The $0-30,000 income bracket pays $16,171 per year. At four-year total cost around $65,000 against $37,300 average 6-year earnings, the financial case is tight. Given the 44% completion rate, low-income students face a real risk of accumulating debt without a degree. The 46.5% Pell rate indicates WPU is serving this population heavily - the institution needs to improve completion outcomes to justify that access mission.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001-75,000) pay $18,287-$18,505 per year - essentially flat across both brackets. The compressed aid structure provides limited differentiation. For middle-income students targeting nursing specifically, WPU is a financially sound choice in NJ. For other programs, the 9.4-year payback and 44% completion rate require careful consideration.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $24,917 per year - about $100,000 over four years. The NJ wage premium on nursing and finance justifies this for those programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at William Paterson University of New Jersey with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $101,328 | B+ |
| Psychology | $48,985 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,108 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $53,589 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,592 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $76,282 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $70,356 | B |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $66,745 | C+ |
| Music | $39,553 | F |
| Teacher Education | $54,093 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (419 graduates) is the clear institutional anchor: $92,257 year one, $101,328 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.260 (ROI grade B+). New Jersey nursing wages are high, and the year-one figure of over $92k reflects immediate licensure premium in a dense, high-wage healthcare market. Median debt of $24,000 is low for a four-year program. This program justifies WPU's existence for many students.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (66 graduates) earns $49,895 year one and $70,356 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.446 (ROI grade B).
Psychology
Psychology (179 graduates) is the second-largest program by graduate count, earning $32,418 year one and $48,985 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.771 (ROI grade D). The D grade and low year-one earnings reflect a large cohort of graduates entering human services, social work support, and healthcare administration roles before advancement. Students planning to pursue graduate-level clinical or counseling roles need to budget for additional education beyond WPU.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (123 graduates) earns $35,864 year one and $58,108 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.697 (ROI grade C). The C grade reflects modest entry wages into law enforcement, corrections, and security management, with meaningful career progression visible in the year-four figure.
Fine and Studio Arts
Fine and Studio Arts (56 graduates) earns $23,892 year one and $44,298 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.130 (ROI grade F). The F grade reflects debt exceeding a year's earnings. Arts graduates in the NYC metro have access to a vibrant creative market, but entry wages are low and the debt load from a four-year degree creates a persistent financial challenge in the first years of an arts career.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 68.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How William Paterson University of New Jersey’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.1% |
| Enrollment | 6,614 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 46.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,396 |
William Paterson accepts 90.1% of applicants. No test score data is reported. Admission is not selective. The school functions as an access institution for NJ students who need a public university credential in the NYC metro area. Given the low completion rate, prospective students should specifically ask about advising resources, remedial support, and first-year retention programs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Paterson University of New Jersey (this school) | 54 | $18,745 | $57,780 |
| Rowan University | 66 | $22,408 | $59,988 |
| Radford University | 56 | $14,578 | $53,739 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 54 | $15,301 | $51,871 |
| Southern Connecticut State University | 52 | $20,857 | $55,043 |
| Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | 50 | $28,014 | $61,415 |
Who Thrives Here
The acceptance rate is 90.1%. The 44% completion rate is the most concerning data point. The 46.5% Pell grant rate indicates heavy low-income enrollment, which amplifies the stakes of non-completion.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for William Paterson University of New Jersey is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $18,745 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $57,780 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 44.0% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 68.5% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $22,334 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
William Paterson University of New Jersey: Common Questions
Is William Paterson University of New Jersey worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. William Paterson University of New Jersey scores 54/100 on our ROI scale. At $18,745 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $57,780 ten years after entry, so it takes about 9.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does William Paterson University of New Jersey cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $18,745 a year, or roughly $74,980 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $57,780 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,980 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off William Paterson University of New Jersey?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.4 years for William Paterson University of New Jersey. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,334, against average earnings of $37,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at William Paterson University of New Jersey?
The six-year graduation rate is 44.0%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.