by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many William Paterson University first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at William Paterson University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 74% students making it past their freshmen year, William Paterson University has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in New Jersey, the average is 74.83%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| William Paterson University | 74% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Jersey | 74.83% |
Of the 1731 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 46% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 59% of the students had graduated and after eight years 61% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical William Paterson University graduation rate 59%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1354 | 46% |
| Six Years | 1731 | 59% |
| Eight Years | 58 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1139 | 39% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 1139 students or 39% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1139 students who did not complete their degree?
18 are still enrolled.
608 transferred to another institution.
William Paterson University lost contact with the remaining 498 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 1.6% |
| Transferred | 608 | 53.4% |
| Dropped Out | 498 | 43.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 60% |
| Black / African-American | 33% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 43% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 48% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 60% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at William Paterson University are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at William Paterson University of New Jersey represent 47.51% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the William Paterson University graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 58% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | William Paterson University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 55% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 47.82% |
589 first-time / full-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
358 transferred to another institution.
William Paterson University lost contact with the remaining 211 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 3.40% |
| Transferred | 358 | 60.78% |
| Dropped Out | 211 | 35.82% |
First-time / part-time students at William Paterson University of New Jersey represent 0.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the William Paterson University graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 20% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | William Paterson University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
4 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
William Paterson University lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 50.00% |
Returning / full-time students at William Paterson University of New Jersey represent 34.44% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the William Paterson University graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 68% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | William Paterson University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 66% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 55.07% |
324 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
155 transferred to another institution.
William Paterson University lost contact with the remaining 160 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.78% |
| Transferred | 155 | 47.84% |
| Dropped Out | 160 | 49.38% |
Returning / part-time students at William Paterson University of New Jersey represent 17.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the William Paterson University graduation rate was 56%, and by the eight year mark, 58% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | William Paterson University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 45% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 56% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 37.80% |
222 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
93 transferred to another institution.
William Paterson University lost contact with the remaining 125 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.80% |
| Transferred | 93 | 41.89% |
| Dropped Out | 125 | 56.31% |
