William Paterson University reported significant enrollment gains in its online and adult programs, with undergraduate online enrollment surging by over 1,300% since 2021, reaching 1,012 students. The enrollment gains were announced by the Provost at his address on Friday. 

“We are the emergent leader in adult education,” Provost Joshua B. Powers said during the presentation. “This population is large and growing while 18-year-old enrollment is declining.” He emphasized the strategic importance of these gains, noting that the university has become “number one in New Jersey, number two in our Carnegie class, and number 17 among 720 four-year public institutions nationwide.” 

The university is expanding its academic portfolio with several new graduate programs planned for 2025-2026, including Secondary and Elementary MAT programs, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, and a master’s in educational technology and Instructional Design. Additionally, the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will launch its first online graduate programs in Integrated Marketing Communications and Public Policy. 

Undergraduate programs in healthcare and STEM fields showed strong growth, with several programs experiencing 10% or more in enrollment increases between Fall 2023 and 2024. The university has also seen substantial growth in certificate programs, with over 1,000 students currently enrolled in various certificate offerings. 

First-time, full-time student retention has improved to 74.4%, placing the university first in New Jersey for retention growth. The university has also strengthened its dual enrollment partnerships, working with 35 high schools and offering 134 programs, representing nearly 50% growth from the previous year. 

The university is implementing several new initiatives, including a digital badge system for certificates, expansion of experiential learning opportunities, and the rollout of UCC 2.0 curriculum changes for Fall 2025. Currently, 78% of students are enrolled in majors with integrated career preparation components, with an aim to reach 100% in the coming year. 

This growth comes despite earlier challenges, as the university experienced a significant decline in undergraduate enrollment between 2019 and 2023, losing approximately 2,000 students. However, fall 2024 marked the first undergraduate enrollment increase since 2012, suggesting a positive turning point for the institution.