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As parents and family, the success of your future WP student is your top priority. Explore this page to learn about all the ways William Paterson provides support and opportunities for our students and helps jump-start their careers.
WP graduates go on to pursue an incredible variety of in-demand professions, earning $1 million more over the course of their careers than an individual without a bachelor’s degree, according to a recent study. Other traditional benefits of a college degree include greater access to healthcare, higher rates of home ownership, and improved family quality of life, among others.
See how William Paterson helps students achieve their goals and transition from classroom to career.
WP Alumns are employed or in graduate school within 6 months after graduation
Average Starting Salary for WP Class of 2020
Noteworthy Careers for WP Graduates Alumni Jobs (as identified on LinkedIn) and Median Mid-Career Salaries (according to PayScale, 10+ years of experience)
Our community is powerful.
Powerful Conversations with Parents, Students, and Staff.
Our graduates work at major marketing, public relations, and media companies, have been accepted into top graduate programs, and have won awards, including the Emmy Award.
In addition to traditional financial aid and work study programs, we offer a variety of merit and need-based scholarships and programs to make it easier for students to pay for college. See what we have to offer and find the right financial solutions for you.
2000+grants & scholarships are awarded to our students each year, totaling over$56 million
The well being of our students and the University community is always our main concern. William Paterson University offers a range of programs, services, and resources to promote physical and mental health campus wide.
Dedicated services committed to making physical, mental and behavioral health care accessible to students.
Need accommodations? The ARC is here to ensure students with disabilities have equal access to all programs, activities and benefits at the University.
See the steps we take every day to ensure students feel safe and protected on campus.
The Orientation program is designed to make your transition to college as smooth as possible. Students and parents participate in activities to foster an open community dedicated to success from the moment you set foot on campus.
Orientation for Parents/Families/Caregivers
With students’ grit and our support, there’s nothing they can’t accomplish. Explore opportunities and support designed to help students tackle new challenges head-on.
An innovative first-year experience program that guides new students in transitioning to college life.
Services that go above and beyond to help guide all students on the path to success.
The Honors College offers a space to explore new ideas and pursue a rigorous curriculum with a challenging array of courses, seminars, and co-curricular activities.
Our vibrant campus offers students plenty of opportunities to stand out, jump in, and get involved!
Our impact doesn’t stay on campus. See how students have an opportunity to go beyond the classroom and make a difference in the community.
See how students get involved
You don’t have to play varsity to get involved in Pioneer sports. See the on-campus athletic and recreational opportunities all students can engage in.
Check out our Athletics Program
Learn about our Recreation Services
No matter how you express yourself, you’ll find an outlet here. From visual arts to live performance and orchestra, explore the arts on campus.
Check out WP Presents!
With new, state-of-the-art facilities and a welcoming community, you live at the heart of the entire on-campus experience.
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One of the most diverse colleges and universities in New Jersey, we’re committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive community that fosters strong relationships and drives change.
The epicenter of campus culture, supporting an intersectional environment where individuals of all cultures are understood, included, and valued.
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We’re creating a climate of justice, equity and inclusion on campus. And it starts with knowledge, understanding, and empathy.
An affirming space that promotes awareness of the cultural wealth and resiliency of Latina/o/x identity, experiences and voices.
Students in William Paterson University's Criminology and Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Social Work programs starting in Fall 2026 will have access to a new virtual reality training system designed to enhance their classroom learning with immersive, scenario-based experiences.
The University recently acquired the WrapReality virtual reality platform, which allows students to engage in realistic simulations, making it one of the pioneers in utilizing this technology for student success across the country. The VR system supports William Paterson's emphasis on experiential learning by giving students hands-on practice with situations they may encounter in careers across law enforcement, corrections, social work, law, and related fields. The technology will be integrated into coursework to provide students with opportunities to practice communication, ethics, critical thinking, decision-making, and de-escalation skills in a controlled learning environment, says Professor Colleen Eren, who directs the University’s Criminology and Criminal Justice program.
"The Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Social Work programs at William Paterson have strong academic components. We teach students social science theory, how to understand and apply empirical research. But we also want to give students the kind of applied knowledge that will set them apart in their chosen professions and keep them excited about learning,” Eren says.
Students will find themselves, among dozens of VR simulations guided by their professors, entering prisons and interacting with incarcerated people—both those seeking to harm and those seeking to improve themselves, conducting constitutional traffic stops, investigating and mediate domestic violence situations, facing active shooters on a school campus, teaching individuals with substance abuse disorders how to resist relapse, de-escalating potential violent confrontations with aggressive civilians, and confronting officers engaged in unethical policing practices.
The addition of the new training system reflects William Paterson's ongoing commitment to experiential learning and the use of innovative technologies that support student success.
Learn more about the University’s bachelor’s degree program in Criminology and Criminal Justice here.
