Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Wayne, New Jersey
92.5% Acceptance Rate
William Paterson University of New Jersey — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
92.5%Acceptance Rate
2.97Avg GPA
1168Avg SAT
$26,555Annual Cost
$57,780Grad Salary
44.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
92.5%
Avg GPA
2.97
Avg SAT
1168
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1128–1198
Avg Net Price
$17,764
Need-Based Aid
44.5% receive Pell
William Paterson University of New Jersey (NJ) is a public regional institution focusing on academic achievement and professional preparation. Admissions evaluate high school performance and curriculum strength. They look for self-directed students prepared for a robust, metropolitan-proximate campus experience.
William Paterson University of New Jersey Acceptance Rate
William Paterson University of New Jersey runs an open-access admission policy — with a 92.5% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 92.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.97 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.77 – 2.96
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.52
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
William Paterson University of New Jersey Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
William Paterson University of New Jersey follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of December 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 127 days left — Early Action
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
William Paterson University of New Jersey reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Early Action
December 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (Merit scholarship priority: 2025/12/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
William Paterson University of New Jersey GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at William Paterson University of New Jersey is 2.97. That makes admissions here moderately selective. Most admitted students carry a blend of A's, B's, and the occasional C.
A stronger SAT or ACT score can comfortably offset a GPA on the lower end of this range.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.17–3.37.William Paterson University of New Jersey GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.97 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.77 – 2.96
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.57 – 2.76
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.56
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No personal essay or letter of recommendation required for general first-year admission; admission and merit scholarships are test-optional ($50 application fee).
- BFA Art requires a 12?15 piece portfolio (not required for the BA Studio major); all Bachelor of Music majors require an audition with no audition-free path, though two music minors don't require one.
- University Honors College scholarship is $5,000/year; priority deadline March 1, but applications are only reviewed after general admission.
- Early Action deadline December 1; acceptance rate around 90%.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at William Paterson University of New Jersey
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on William Paterson University of New Jersey's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
William Paterson University of New Jersey Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if William Paterson University of New Jersey is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into William Paterson University of New Jersey Without SAT or ACT?
William Paterson University of New Jersey considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
William Paterson University of New Jersey Average SAT Score: 1168
The average SAT score of admitted students at William Paterson University of New Jersey is 1168 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1168 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1198 SAT) to stand out. Below average? William Paterson University of New Jersey allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1128, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at William Paterson University of New Jersey. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1168 | 1128 | 1198 |
Below 1128, you're behind most admitted students; at 1198 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1150
Can I get into William Paterson University of New Jersey with a 1200 SAT?
A 1200 SAT puts you ahead of most of William Paterson University of New Jersey's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for William Paterson University of New Jersey
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into William Paterson University of New Jersey is the easy part — what matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Skip Essay-Polishing for General Admission - Redirect That Effort If You're Applying BFA or Music
William Paterson's general first-year admission requires no personal essay and no letter of recommendation - GPA and transcript do the work. But BFA art and all Bachelor of Music applicants face a completely separate, real gate: you must be 'accepted both academically by the University and musically by the music department' (or visually, for BFA), meaning strong grades alone do not guarantee entry into these specific majors.
Build a BFA Portfolio That Shows Range Across 12?15 Pieces, Not Depth in One Medium
WP's BFA portfolio review explicitly wants variety - drawings, paintings, photography, 2D/3D design, sketchbooks - rather than a narrow showcase of your strongest single skill. If you're set on the BA Studio major instead, skip the portfolio entirely since it isn't required there; confirm which track you're actually applying to before assembling 15 pieces you didn't need.
Treat the Music Audition Packet as a Separate Deadline From Your General Application
Classical-track Bachelor of Music applicants must submit a personal essay, repertoire list, and two letters of recommendation to the Music Department at least two weeks before their chosen audition date - independent of, and in addition to, the general university application timeline. Either in-person or virtual audition format is accepted with no admissions penalty either way, so choose based on your own preparation and travel logistics, not a perceived competitive disadvantage.
Apply to the Honors College Immediately After Your Admission Decision Lands
Honors College applications 'will not be reviewed until the student is admitted to William Paterson University,' and the $5,000/year scholarship has a priority deadline of March 1 with rolling review (and a waitlist) afterward. The moment your general admission decision arrives, submit the Honors application the same week - don't wait to see your full financial aid package first, since late applicants go straight to the waitlist.
Expert Insight:
Music majors sometimes treat a strong GPA and general admission acceptance as the finish line, not realizing acceptance to William Paterson and acceptance into the Music Department are two independent decisions - a student can be fully admitted to the university and still be denied their intended music major if the audition (with its required essay, repertoire list, and recommendation letters submitted two weeks ahead) isn't treated as its own complete application.
William Paterson University of New Jersey Profile
Full Name
William Paterson University of New Jersey
City
Wayne
State
New Jersey
ZIP Code
7470
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a William Paterson University of New Jersey Degree Worth It?
Whether William Paterson University of New Jersey is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $80,300, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.66%.
How much does a degree from William Paterson University of New Jersey Cost?
The sticker price is $26,555/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $17,764.
44.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 41.7% take federal loans at William Paterson University of New Jersey — file your FAFSA early and list William Paterson University of New Jersey as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a William Paterson University of New Jersey Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $57,780 — about 42% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than William Paterson University of New Jersey. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | 1119 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as William Paterson University of New Jersey. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| The College of Idaho | Caldwell, ID | 1166 | 24 |
| North Central College | Naperville, IL | 1165 | 25 |
| Ball State University | Muncie, IN | 1172 | 28 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than William Paterson University of New Jersey. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
Degree Programs at William Paterson University of New Jersey
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About William Paterson University of New Jersey Admissions
Median graduate earnings at William Paterson University of New Jersey run about $57,780 a year.
At about $26,555 a year, William Paterson University of New Jersey is on the more affordable end.
About 44.5% receive a Pell Grant at William Paterson University of New Jersey — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 92.5%, William Paterson University of New Jersey's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at William Paterson University of New Jersey average a 2.97 GPA.
William Paterson University of New Jersey doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 2.67 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.57, William Paterson University of New Jersey becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at William Paterson University of New Jersey — aim above 1168, ideally within the 1128–1198 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for William Paterson University of New Jersey is December 1. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 50. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Merit scholarship priority: 2025/12/01. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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