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William Paterson University of New Jersey

#442 in US ranking Wayne, NJ
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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William Paterson University of New Jersey award

Cost

Cost / year
$29,596
Tuition & fees
$16,748
Avg. aid
$10,234
Receiving aid
93%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
90%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
44%
Median salary
$45,453
1 yr after graduation

What are the graduation rates for students at William Paterson University of New Jersey?

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.

What is the earning potential for graduates at William Paterson University of New Jersey?

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.

William Paterson University of New Jersey Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
44%
4-year graduation
26%
6-year graduation
44%

William Paterson University of New Jersey Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
74%
First-year retention, part-time students
63%
Employed 1 year after graduation
95%

William Paterson University of New Jersey Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$45,453
4 years after graduation
$59,272
5 years after graduation
$61,101
7 years after graduation
$66,970
10 years after starting college
$61,869

Alumni Salary for William Paterson University of New Jersey Degrees

Degrees

Avg. salary

Accounting and Related Services

$46,547

Biology, General

$33,361

Chemistry

$39,408

Communication and Media Studies

$29,604

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$48,054

Criminal Justice and Corrections

$32,604

Economics

$35,787

English Language and Literature, General

$30,358

Finance and Financial Management Services

$44,724

Fine and Studio Arts

$26,381

General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations

$54,414

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General

$36,302

History

$30,885

International Business

$34,603

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

$31,530

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

$42,063

Marketing

$36,846

Mathematics

$40,517

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

$31,816

Music

$22,365

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

$41,870

Non-Professional Legal Studies

$33,667

Political Science and Government

$34,636

Psychology, General

$30,863

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

$75,485

Sociology

$31,120

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

$29,106

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

$48,354

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

$46,852

William Paterson University of New Jersey Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Health Professions and Related Programs

46790557

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

111138249

Psychology

14424168

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

7666142

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

6248110

Visual and Performing Arts

524496

Social Sciences

682694

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

542579

Education

502474

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

96271

MASTER’S Degree

Women Men Total

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

174130304

Health Professions and Related Programs

24835283

Education

19344237

Psychology

25530

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

10616

Visual and Performing Arts

7714

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

5510

English Language and Literature/Letters

808

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

426

Social Sciences

314

DOCTOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

639

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.

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