William Paterson University

William Paterson University is a public university in Wayne, New Jersey, named for William Paterson, a signer of the U.S. Constitution and early New Jersey governor. Founded in 1855 as a teacher-training institution, it grew into a comprehensive state university offering undergraduate and graduate programs across the arts, sciences, business, education, and health-related fields. The university sits on a large suburban campus in Passaic County and serves a diverse student body drawn largely from New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area. It emphasizes accessible public higher education, career preparation, and community engagement, with residential and commuting options and a range of student life and athletic programs. As part of New Jersey’s public higher-education system, William Paterson combines teaching-focused undergraduate education with master’s and professional graduate study, supported by libraries, labs, performance spaces, and recreational facilities on its Wayne campus.