William Paterson University

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Scholarships & Financial Aid

School Says - General Information
William Paterson University, a public school founded in 1855, has grown to become a comprehensive, liberal arts institution committed to academic excellence and student success. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, it offers 43 undergraduate and 20 graduate degrees and professional development programs through its five colleges: Arts and Communication; Cotsakos College of Business; Education; Humanities and Social Sciences; and Science and Health.

William Paterson is located in suburban Wayne, New Jersey. The approximately 10,819 full- and part-time students, who enjoy the resources of a large university as well as the individual attention available at a smaller school, relax and study on the 370-acre campus amid the University's woods and waterfalls. It offers a wide variety of student activities, modern on-campus housing, and the most up-to-date educational facilities. Financial aid is also available to qualified students.

School Says - Student Body
There are more than 50 student clubs covering interests from anthropology to the student-run television station. The University also offers various opportunities for students to become involved in leadership roles. They may pursue leadership opportunities in student government or in one of the many academic, social, programmatic, and media groups on campus.

William Paterson's athletic teams participate in the NCAA's Division III, as well as in club and intramural sports. Both men and women have teams in basketball, soccer, and swimming. In addition, the men field baseball and football teams (the baseball team won national championships in 1992 and 1996). Women also participate in field hockey, softball, tennis, and volleyball.

School Says - Academics
In order to graduate, the baccalaureate degree requires 128 credits (120 credits for students entering as of fall 2010). Approximately 53 to 54 of those credits are earned in general education classes. Another 30 to 60 come from work in the student's major, and 20 to 40 can be earned in electives. The general education specifications and major requirements vary for degrees, including the B.F.A. and the B.M. The Career Development and Advisement Center counsels and advises students who are undecided as to their major, as well as their career choices.

Programs in the University Honors College offer students further challenges and include biopsychology, cognitive science, humanities, independent study, life science and environmental ethics, management, marketing, music, performing and literary arts, and social sciences. There are also pre-professional programs in dentistry, engineering, law, medicine (which includes dentistry, optometry, podiatry, and veterinary science), pharmacy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology. Military experience may also be evaluated for credit.

School Says - Admissions
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Application, fee, and supporting official transcripts for freshman, transfer, second-degree and re-admit students must be received by the deadline dates shown below:
Fall June 1 Spring December 1

All forms, transcripts, and the $50 application fee must be received from first-year applicants or transfer students by those dates. Candidates should bear in mind that the cut-off dates may be earlier if the combination of continuing students and new applications begin to exceed availability.

PROOF OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
In order to comply with state and federal regulations regarding financial aid, all applicants (freshman, transfer, second baccalaureate, and re-admit students) MUST submit proof of high school graduation or equivalency (copy of high school diploma or high school transcripts with date of graduation posted) prior to enrollment. A high school equivalency diploma recognized by New Jersey may be presented in place of the above requirements.

FRESHMAN APPLICANTS
Admission criteria include having passed a minimum of sixteen (16) Carnegie Units and having demonstrated good academic ability. To strengthen academic success, it is strongly recommended that you take more than the minimum courses. Your record must show the following:

Subject Area Min. Unit Requirements
English 4 Composition, Literature

Mathematics 3 Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II

Laboratory 2 Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Sciences, Anatomy/Physiology

Social Science 2-3 American History, World History, Political Science

Additional Subjects 5 Advanced Math, Literature, Foreign Language, Social Sciences

The art and music departments have specific requirements beyond those listed above. Passing these departmental requirements does not automatically admit you to William Paterson. Students who plan to major in mathematics, nursing, or a science are expected to have taken more than the minimum courses in those areas. For more information on specialized departmental requirements, call the University's admissions office.

SAT/ACT REQUIREMENTS
Entering freshman students must have taken the SAT I or the American College Test (ACT) and have their scores sent to the Office of Admissions, William Paterson University. To submit your scores, indicate code 2518 for the SAT and code 2584 for the ACT.

TRANSFER APPLICANTS
William Paterson accepts students for the fall and spring semesters (June 1 and December 1) for full- or part-time study. When applying, students must present at least 12 college-level credits with a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA); computer science and nursing majors must have a GPA of at least 2.5, and teacher certification program applicants must have a GPA of at least 2.75. There are some limitations on the number of credits accepted, e.g., a maximum of 70 credits from a two-year institution or 90 credits from a four-year college or university. More details on transferring credits may be obtained from our Admissions staff.

William Paterson University welcomes all visitors and requests for information. Campus tours are conducted weekdays by appointment. The Office of Admissions will gladly schedule a tour for you or answer any questions. To make arrangements to visit the University or for more information about our programs, contact:

Office of Admissions
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ 07470
> Telephone: 973-720-2125
Fax: 973-720-2910
E-mail: admissions@wpunj.edu
Web: www.wpunj.edu

School Says - Campus Life
Each course of study at William Paterson is enhanced by world-class academic facilities and resources; curricula that address classic and contemporary issues in higher education; and a distinguished faculty comprised of award-winning teacher-scholars-- 92 percent of full-time faculty hold the highest degree in their field.

Many social, cultural, and recreational opportunities complement academic programs. The University's residential capacity is nearly 2,600 students in ten residence halls.. A 4,000-seat recreation center is a short walk from the residence halls, and Wightman Gym houses a competition-sized pool. The "Pioneer spirit" is evident in the University's 12 intercollegiate sports with numerous NCAA Division III pos-season tournament appearances.

The University also presents many enlightening and entertaining cultural events, among them the Distinguished Lecturer Series, concerts, art exhibitions, and theatrical productions. In addition, it offers a wide variety of continuing education programs designed for both professionals and the general public.

School Says - Cost Aid
Full-time students from New Jersey pay $10,838 for tuition and fees in 2009/2010 . Tuition for out-of-state students is $17,592 . Room and board runs roughly $10,280 annually. For those in-state residents who want to live on-campus, the total is approximately $21,118 , and for out-of-state residents, approximately $27,872.These totals may vary subject to decisions by the University's Board of Trustees.William Paterson provides a first-rate education at a highly reasonable cost. In accordance with the University's commitment to value in education, federal and state need-based financial aid programs are offered in the forms of grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. In order to apply for financial aid, students should submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the United States Department of Education by April 1.

Recently, scholarship/grant awards totaling approximately $32,890,000 were distributed at the University.

First-year students and upperclassmen compete for academic scholarships. And both the William Paterson Foundation and the Alumni Association award more than 200 scholarships for academic achievement, exceptional character qualities, leadership excellence, and financial need.

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