

William Paterson University holds institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Institutional accreditation is a review of the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation of an individual professional program.
Accreditation matters because attendance at an eligible, accredited institution is one condition for participation in federal student aid programs. It does not automatically mean that credits will transfer elsewhere or that a degree satisfies a particular state's licensing rules. Applicants to regulated fields such as nursing and teacher education should check the current accreditation and approval status of their specific program, along with the rules in the state where they expect to practice.
First-year applicants generally apply with a high school transcript showing graduation or an accepted equivalent credential. The university considers the secondary school record and GPA; completion of a college-preparatory curriculum is part of its reported admissions criteria.
SAT and ACT scores are considered rather than universally required in the reported admissions criteria, as are recommendations. Applicants should check the policy for their application term and intended program before deciding whether to submit optional materials. Students educated in another language may need to document English proficiency; the reported requirements identify TOEFL as one accepted requirement, but applicants should confirm current test options and exemptions. Programs with clinical, artistic, or other specialized work may have additional steps.
In the reported first-year admissions cycle, William Paterson admitted 8,256 of 9,165 applicants, or about 90%. That institution-wide rate describes a past applicant pool; it is not a guarantee of admission to a particular major. Applicants should use the current admissions instructions for deadlines and for any category-specific requirements.
The reported undergraduate application fee is $50. An application fee is a charge for processing an application, not a tuition payment or a deposit that reserves a place in the class.
Applicants who qualify for a fee waiver should review the waiver options in the application they use and request one before submitting payment. Eligibility and procedures can differ for first-year, transfer, graduate, and special-program applicants; the current application instructions should control if they differ from the reported standard fee. Students should not assume that receiving financial aid automatically waives an application fee.
Air Force ROTC participation is reported as available to William Paterson students through a cooperating host institution rather than a unit based on the Wayne campus. Students considering it should confirm the current host, cross-enrollment procedure, travel schedule, and whether required ROTC classes fit their degree plan.
ROTC participation and ROTC scholarships are separate decisions. Scholarship eligibility varies, and commissioning ordinarily carries a military service obligation. An applicant interested in another military branch should verify a current cross-enrollment arrangement with that branch's ROTC program before relying on it as an enrollment option.
William Paterson accepts transfer applications and generally considers college credit from other accredited institutions. Transfer entry is reported for fall, spring, and summer, making it relevant to students who do not plan to start in September.
Applicants should be prepared to submit official transcripts from every college attended and to check whether their academic history calls for a high school record as well. Admission to the university does not mean every previous course will apply to a chosen major: a course may transfer as elective credit without meeting a specific requirement. Some majors may also have separate admission standards or course-sequence constraints.
The university reports accepting several forms of evaluated prior learning, including CLEP, DSST, and credit associated with American Council on Education recommendations. Before enrolling, transfer applicants should seek an official credit evaluation and a degree audit showing which general education, major, and remaining residency requirements they must complete at William Paterson.
William Paterson students interested in study abroad should explore university-approved international study options and academic advising before choosing a destination or outside provider. The key distinction is between finding a program that accepts a student and obtaining approval for its courses to count toward a William Paterson degree.
Available destinations, term lengths, and faculty-led opportunities can change. Students should establish how proposed courses will transfer, whether a major has tightly sequenced requirements, and what travel, housing, insurance, and program charges add to the cost. Financial aid may apply differently depending on the program and enrollment arrangement, so approval from both academic advisers and the financial aid office matters before paying a deposit.
13% of admitted students enrolled (1,037 of 8,256)
Regular application deadline
June 1Application fee
$50Early Action
NoHigh school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Neither required nor recommendedSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Considered but not requiredAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.