Best Colleges: William Paterson Rises In Latest U.S. News Rankings

WAYNE, NJ — William Paterson University has improved rankings in this year's "Best Colleges" report from U.S. News and World Report in two categories, and university officials say they are proud of the work done to support and prepare their students.

The U.S. News and World Report rankings evaluated 1,500 colleges and universities using up to 19 measures of academic quality, the digital media company said in a news release. This year, the company said it significantly altered the way it ranks colleges, placing a greater emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduates.

U.S. News includes an overall "Best Colleges" list, as well as many more specific ones: Top Public Schools, Best Value Schools, Best National and Regional Universities, Best Liberal Arts Colleges, and more.

William Paterson was again ranked as a Best Regional University in the North Division, and as a Best Value School in that same division. The Wayne-based university was named one of the top colleges for veterans in the region, and ranked highly for social mobility and campus diversity.

The university moved up six spots in the Regional Universities list, up to No. 69 of 166 schools. Last year's placement at No. 75 was a 15-spot improvement from the year before.

William Paterson was rated at No. 58 regionally for Best Value Schools, up nine spots from last year.

The university also ranked No. 21 regionally on the Best Colleges list of top performers on social mobility, which measures how well schools graduate students with exceptional financial need. Willam Paterson ranked No. 21 in the 2023 report, and jumped 5 spots from No. 26 in the 2022 report.

And, the university tied for No. 5 among those 166 regional universities in "campus ethnic diversity," which identifies campuses where “students are most likely to encounter undergraduates from racial or ethnic groups different from their own.”

The university highlighted the U.S. News and World Report rankings along with its place among the top 5 percent on the CollegeNet Social Mobility Index, which measures how well colleges and universities educate economically-disadvantages students at lower tuition, and graduates them into well-paying jobs. More than 1,500 schools are included in this index.

“We are proud of the great work William Paterson is doing to provide our students with a great education that will prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives,” said President Richard J. Helldobler in a news release.

“This is what our progress in the U.S. News and other rankings ultimately reflects, and it is what matters most to the diverse population of students—many of them first-generation and immigrant—who we serve," he continued. "These are the students who are changing the social fabric of New Jersey and our nation, and I am pleased that these latest rankings signal how well we support their success.”

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