William Paterson is committed to providing an exceptional and affordable public higher education. While your college education is a crucial investment in your future, we work on your behalf to ensure that your education is as flexible and affordable as possible. Please note: As of February 5, 2024, the Department of Education announced that colleges will not receive applicants’ federal aid information until March at the earliest. Students will be notified when we have received their financial aid data and we will provide expected processing times once they become available. While we have not changed any commitment and priority deposit deadlines for undergraduate students yet, William Paterson University will be flexible with commitment deadlines to allow students and their families to be able to receive financial aid packages and make an informed decision regarding their choice for the fall. The Office of Financial Aid is pleased to offer a FAFSA Completion Assistance Program for accepted students, featuring: A private and virtual meeting with your Financial Aid Counselor An opportunity to submit your FAFSA securely and accurately Learn more about our FAFSA Completion Assistance Program, including our calendar, required documentation, and appointment scheduler. If you're an accepted student, please use your login credentials for your Applicant Status Portal. Costs For the 2023-24 academic year, an undergraduate student who is a resident of New Jersey taking between 12 and 19 credits per semester would pay $15,150 ($7,575 per semester) for tuition and fees. The University administers a number of financial aid programs (grants, scholarships, waivers, loans and campus employment) designed to assist eligible* students in funding their college education. Helping to pay for a William Paterson education For many families, affording college means 1) choosing a reasonably priced school, and 2) using a combination of student and family savings, student jobs, and various forms of financial aid to pay for it. Let us show you how! Options to help you pay for college include scholarships, need-based grants, student loans, and on-campus employment. Estimate your Net Costs Tuition-Free Opportunities A William Paterson bachelor’s degree is now even more accessible and affordable than ever for New Jersey students with significant financial need. The University’s existing Pledge 4 Success program, augmented by the state’s new Garden State Guarantee, launching fall 2022, now creates a four-year funding path that enables qualifying students to attend William Paterson University tuition free or at a greatly reduced cost. For New Jersey students with a family adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less, these programs will cover the cost of tuition and fees that are not already paid by federal and state financial aid or other scholarships. New Jersey students whose families have an annual AGI between $65,001 and $80,000 will pay a discounted net price of no more than $7,500 for tuition and fees per year (for up to four years). Students will be automatically considered in these programs when they have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application (NJAFAA) before the deadline. See above for information about our FAFSA Completion Assistance Program for accepted students. *Please note that housing, books, and other expenses are not covered by Pledge 4 Success or Garden State Guarantee. For more details, visit our Financial Aid website for Tuition-Free Opportunities. Scholarships WP maintains a generous merit scholarship program for incoming freshman and transfer applicants. Each year close to 2,000 scholarships are awarded totaling over $7 million. In most cases, all accepted students are automatically considered for scholarships; no separate scholarship application is required. Additional scholarship opportunities for incoming and currently enrolled students are also available through the William Paterson University Foundation and the Alumni Association. Outside scholarships, which students research and apply for on their own, are also accepted. Grants Grants are awarded to students based on financial need. To be considered for federal and state grants, students need to submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. Grants do not need to be repaid. Click here to find out about applying for financial aid » Pioneer Award Tuition Waiver Qualified out-of-state and international students can pay close to our affordable in-state rate for tuition and fees. This will save New York State residents, Pennsylvania residents, and others living outside New Jersey approximately $9,000 per year ($4,500 per semester) for undergraduate students. Loans Student loans may be awarded to most students and at various amounts. These do need to be repaid but can help students afford their education up-front. Students are then responsible to repay their loans at a designated time after their education at William Paterson is complete.Click here for our Financial Aid homepage and to learn about student loan programs » Student Jobs On-campus jobs are available in many of our University offices, offering bi-weekly paychecks for students. These jobs help students pay for college while also providing valuable contacts and real-world experience. *Non-degree students may be eligible for alternative/private loans only.
More information For Information on costs for undergraduate students, please visit Student Accounts[for information on costs for graduate students, click here] For information about financial aid, please visit Financial Aid For information about residence halls, please visit Residence Life For information about meal plan options, please visit Dining Services
