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William Paterson University in Wayne is once again among the top-ranked schools in its region, as well as a best value school, according to U.S. News & World Report’s newly released 2025 edition of Best Colleges.
The University moved up nine spots, to no. 60 from no. 69 of 165 institutions, in the Best Regional Universities-North category, marking its highest-ever ranking. In the past four years, the University has climbed 30 spots from its ranking of no. 90 in Best Colleges 2022.
“William Paterson’s rapid rise in the rankings of top universities in our region in recent years reflects our strong commitment to student success and career preparation,” said President Richard J. Helldobler. “I am proud of the great work that all of our faculty and staff are doing on behalf of our students, whose own ‘Will. Power.’ is putting more life-changing college degrees in the hands of those who are changing the social fabric of New Jersey and the nation.”
William Paterson University was also named to U.S News’s Best Values Schools list in the 2024 Best Colleges edition. The ranking factors academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial need. The University ranked at no. 70.
In addition, William Paterson ranks no. 22 among the same 165 regional universities in the northern United States on the Best Colleges 2025 list of top performers on social mobility, which measures how well schools graduate students with exceptional financial need.
Along with its U.S. News ranking on social mobility, William Paterson University is among the national leaders in helping its students climb the socioeconomic ladder. It ranks no. 51 nationwide in the 2023 Social Mobility Index, created by CollegeNet to measure the extent to which a college or university educates more economically disadvantaged students at lower tuition and graduates them into good-paying jobs.
In addition, William Paterson’s undergraduate nursing degree program climbed 65 spots to no. 254 out of 686 BSN programs nationwide, placing it in the top 37 percent of programs.
William Paterson is also included on the Best Colleges list of Best Colleges for Veterans, ranked at no. 26 in its region. The list is designed to provide data on top-ranked schools that make pursuing a college education more affordable for veterans and active-duty service members.
Other William Paterson undergraduate programs ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report include business, ranked no. 353 out of 522 schools nationally, and psychology, ranked no. 355 out of 542 programs.
As a powerhouse for new talent, William Paterson University offers unmatched support and next-level learning experiences. Together, we're reinventing what an excellent education looks like - here's how.
Our classrooms are never confined to four walls. Students work closely with faculty, get firsthand research experience, and discover fields they never knew existed. And because no two learners are alike, we offer flexible degree options, alternate credentials, and liberal transfer credits.
Your Success Is Our Priority
The transition to college can come with many questions, which is why all first-year Pioneers are paired with a Student Success Team.
This tailored team of experts is composed of a professional advisor, financial aid counselor, career coach, and starting sophomore year, a faculty mentor in the student’s major.
Discover What You Will. Power.
The first semester of college can be overwhelming, and Will. Power. 101, our first-year program, is designed to empower students throughout this life transition. In this semester-long course, students will explore what it means to be a powerhouse in academics, campus involvement and personal development, all while becoming more ingrained in the William Paterson community.
Mentorship That Goes Beyond The Classroom
We have exceptional faculty at William Paterson, and in addition to being experts in their fields, our professors strongly emphasize and prioritize mentorship. Here, students refine and grow in their skills while working alongside and building meaningful relationships with faculty.
We equip our students with the skills and resources they need to thrive, as both thoughtful members of society and career-ready graduates. See how you can excel at William Paterson.
