UCSC vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with William Paterson University of New Jersey in Wayne, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than William Paterson University of New Jersey based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 9,942 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); William Paterson University of New Jersey is in Wayne, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; William Paterson University of New Jersey 18:1.

UCSC vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or William Paterson University of New Jersey? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Paterson University of New Jersey than UCSC ($13,509 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Paterson University of New Jersey are 18.6% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($16,240 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $301 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $15,704.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 98.1% higher at UCSC than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (about $24,861 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $25,344.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey than at University of California Santa Cruz (86% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 51.4% larger than aid received by William Paterson University of New Jersey students ($22,774 vs. $15,040).

UCSC vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or William Paterson University of New Jersey? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between William Paterson University of New Jersey and UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 90 points higher than at William Paterson University of New Jersey (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; William Paterson University of New Jersey 990/1345.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; William Paterson University of New Jersey - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; William Paterson University of New Jersey Jun 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.66 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (2.97).
• William Paterson University of New Jersey has a higher acceptance rate (90.1%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 12.6% at William Paterson University of New Jersey.

UCSC vs. William Paterson University of New Jersey Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and William Paterson University of New Jersey? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than William Paterson University of New Jersey's (46%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $4,541 lower median loan debt than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($19,959 vs. $24,500).
• Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates ($206 vs. $253).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Paterson University of New Jersey students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.