William Paterson University
74%
Acceptance rate
$27,014
Tuition/yr
8,500
Enrollment
About William Paterson University
Public university in New Jersey. Strong education, business, and STEM programs.
William Paterson University is a public institution chartered in 1855, making it the third-oldest public university in New Jersey. Located on a 407-acre campus in Wayne, it enrolls approximately 9,400 students across more than 150 bachelor's, master's, and certificate programs, plus three doctoral degrees in education leadership, clinical psychology, and nursing practice.
The university is particularly recognized for its music and entertainment industries program, which Billboard magazine has named one of the top music business schools in the world, the only public university in New Jersey on that list. The AACSB-accredited Cotsakos College of Business, a nursing school offering a doctor of nursing practice, and a strong computer science department round out its academic profile. WP Online also offers 57 fully online programs.
Wayne, New Jersey sits approximately 20 miles west of Midtown Manhattan, giving students direct access to New York City's professional networks in finance, media, and healthcare. The campus is among the most diverse in New Jersey, with 59% students of color, and ranks 51st nationally for social mobility among roughly 1,200 ranked institutions.
Campus & Location
NJ
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- William Paterson's Pioneer Award scholarship can provide an 80% discount on the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for qualifying international students, meaningfully reducing cost, and the university explicitly lists students from Nepal among its international community, with at least one Nepali student (double-majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics) featured on its admissions pages.
- The 20-mile proximity to New York City is a concrete advantage: Nepali students in business, music, nursing, or computer science can access internships, industry events, and professional networks in one of the world's largest job markets, strengthening OPT and STEM OPT prospects.
- International undergraduate tuition runs approximately $27,000 per year before scholarships, placing it in the lower-to-mid cost tier among US universities, and the university assigns each first-year international student a dedicated Student Success Team to assist with financial aid, course selection, and career planning.
- All F-1 graduates are eligible for 12-month OPT, with STEM-designated programs qualifying for a 24-month extension, relevant for Nepali students targeting computer science, data-related, or nursing pathways.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
Use our GPA converter to translate your exact score to the 4.0 scale.
Does my profile match William Paterson University?
Enter your GPA and IELTS score for an instant admission likelihood check.
Uses published minimum requirements. Final decisions are always at the university's discretion. Use our GPA converter to get your score on the 4.0 scale.
Guides for studying in United States
View allSimilar universities in United States
Want us to verify William Paterson University’s current requirements?
Our counselors can confirm the latest deadlines, tuition, and requirements directly with the admissions office — free, no signup required.