

William Paterson's reported four-year graduation rate is 26%, while its six-year rate is 44%. These figures describe outcomes for defined entering cohorts, not the probability that any particular student will graduate.
Federal graduation-rate measures commonly follow first-time, full-time degree-seeking students. They therefore do not describe all transfer students, part-time students, or adult learners, who may enter with different credits and timelines. The reported first-year retention rate is 74%; retention measures whether students return, not whether they ultimately complete a degree.
The gap between the four- and six-year figures makes time to completion a material planning issue. Students estimating their own timeline should check whether required courses are offered when they can attend, how transferred credits apply, and whether their program includes clinical placements, student teaching, or other sequenced requirements.
College Scorecard program figures offer a limited view of earnings one year after completion, rather than a promise about any graduate's salary. Among the reported William Paterson figures, the median for registered nursing is $75,485; the corresponding figure for computer and information sciences is $48,054.
Other reported one-year program medians include $46,547 for accounting, $30,863 for psychology, and $22,365 for music. These are program-level measures for graduates included in the federal earnings data, not starting salaries for every graduate or estimates adjusted to reflect individual work hours, job location, or career plans. Small programs may also lack a publishable figure. Earnings can change substantially after the first year, and comparisons across majors should account for further education and licensing requirements.
The university reports career support that includes individual and group counseling, résumé assistance, interview preparation, job postings, employer recruitment, fairs, and opportunities for alumni networking. Those services can help students conduct a search; they should not be confused with verified placement or earnings outcomes. An internship is not required of every undergraduate.
Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
$46,547Biology, General
$33,361Chemistry
$39,408Communication and Media Studies
$29,604Computer and Information Sciences, General
$48,054Criminal Justice and Corrections
$32,604Economics
$35,787English Language and Literature, General
$30,358Finance and Financial Management Services
$44,724Fine and Studio Arts
$26,381General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
$54,414Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
$36,302History
$30,885International Business
$34,603Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
$31,530Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
$42,063Marketing
$36,846Mathematics
$40,517Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
$31,816Music
$22,365Natural Resources Conservation and Research
$41,870Non-Professional Legal Studies
$33,667Political Science and Government
$34,636Psychology, General
$30,863Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$75,485Sociology
$31,120Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
$29,106Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
$48,354Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
$46,852BACHELOR’S Degree
Health Professions and Related Programs
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Psychology
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Visual and Performing Arts
Social Sciences
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Education
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
MASTER’S Degree
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Health Professions and Related Programs
Education
Psychology
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology
English Language and Literature/Letters
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Social Sciences
DOCTOR’S Degree
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Data 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.