Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
William Paterson University of New Jersey admits about 9 in 10 applicants (90%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 22% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$50 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 88%, women at 91%.
Yield
13% of admitted students enroll, on the lower end nationally.
Where you stand
How William Paterson University of New Jersey reads a record
and GPA are both very important. 10% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are optional. 0% of first-years sent an SAT and 0% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Most high schools no longer rank; this college doesn't lean on it.
What they look at
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Not considered
- College-prep program
- Required
- Recommendations
- Considered
- Essay
- Considered
- Legacy status
- Not considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
92% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 90% of first-year applicants
1,703 applied · 1,562 admitted · 762 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
At least 12 credits completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date August 1
- Spring entry: priority date January 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Not required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required of some
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by June 1 for fall 2022.
- Priority date: December 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis starting November 1.
- $150 housing deposit, due May 1, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
Recent change: Stopped considering legacy status in fall 2024; Stopped requiring a demonstration of competencies (still considered) in fall 2023; Stopped requiring an essay (still considered) in fall 2023.
On the admissions map
The map plots acceptance rate against SAT scores. William Paterson University of New Jersey doesn't report both, so it isn't shown.
Fall 2021 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 2.97
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.00%
- 3.75–3.9910%
- 3.50–3.7414%
- 3.25–3.4913%
- 3.00–3.2412%
- below 3.051%
The middle half had GPAs of 2.50–3.49.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 0.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 10.0% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 14.3% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 13.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 11.7% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 31.8% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 16.6% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.6% |
| below 1.0 | 2.0% |
Source:William Paterson University of New Jersey Common Data Set 2021–22, Fall 2021About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;William Paterson University of New Jersey Common Data Set 2021–22, Fall 2021;William Paterson University of New Jersey Common Data Set 2021–22, 2021–22;William Paterson University of New Jersey Common Data Set 2021–22, Fall 2022 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)