William Paterson vs Bowie State
William Paterson University of New Jersey and Bowie State University, both public institutions with rich histories, offer distinct educational experiences. William Paterson, located in Wayne, New Jersey, boasts a higher acceptance rate (78%) compared to Bowie State's 68%. With a larger student body, William Paterson offers a wider range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like Business, Education, and Nursing. Bowie State, situated in Bowie, Maryland, excels in fields such as Business, Education, and Social Sciences. While William Paterson's student body is more diverse, Bowie State has a higher graduation rate (59% vs. 53%). Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and goals.
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![]() Bowie State University |
![]() William Paterson University of New Jersey |
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Overview |
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Location | Bowie, Maryland | Wayne, New Jersey |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 72.0% | 67.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 87.0% | 83.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$40
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 840 - 1020 | N/A |
ACT range | 17 - 20 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 17.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 1.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 4,978 | 9,171 |
Total number of admissions given out | 4,333 | 7,636 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 913 | 995 |
Yield rate | 21.1% | 13.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$26,504
Out of state:
$37,244
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In state:
$29,636
Out of state:
$38,374
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Average net price | $14,290 | $15,762 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,760
Out of state:
$16,500
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In state:
$13,778
Out of state:
$22,516
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,616
Meal plan:
$4,842
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Room/dormitory:
$8,062
Meal plan:
$4,672
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
78.0%
Average amount $9,115 |
73.0%
Average amount $10,710 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
49.0%
Average amount $5,364 |
49.0%
Average amount $5,171 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $14,572 |
6.0%
Average amount $12,281 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
5,381
Men 39.0% Women 61.0% |
7,219
Men 40.9% Women 59.1% |
Graduate students |
927
Men 31.8% Women 68.2% |
2,150
Men 24.6% Women 75.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 5.7% |
International students | 2.8% | 1.3% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,600 | 2,605 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | New Jersey New York Maryland Pennsylvania Connecticut |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 14:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 41.9% | 56.0% |
Dropout rate | 24.0% | 33.1% |
Transferred out | 30.0% | 7.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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