Admissions Process

Academic Considerations

First-Time Freshmen:

• Average Applicant Cumulative GPA: 2.5

• SAT/ACT Optional

First-Time Freshmen Application Process

The decision to offer admission acceptance is based on a number of factors. These include the quality of an applicant’s grades, types of courses taken, letters of recommendation, extracurricular/community involvement, and financial eligibility requirements as indicated by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education of New Jersey.

Step 1: Complete a WPUNJ On-line application.

Step 2: Submit an EOF application.

• You must apply to WPUNJ first in order to apply to EOF.
• Available on your WP application status page.

Step 3: Submit the required supporting and financial documents

•  Your application will not be considered complete or be reviewed for EOF admissions until all required documents are received. 
• An automated e-mail will be sent to you with more information regarding the required supporting documents needed to complete your EOF application process.

Please Note: All students must complete the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) for each academic year by April 1st.

The FAFSA can be obtained online at:  https://fafsa.ed.gov.

We recommend that you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. It allows students and parents to access the IRS tax return information needed and transfer the data directly into their FAFSA. It’s the best way of ensuring that your FAFSA has accurate tax information.

All students must complete their "To-Do list" from the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA).

The “To-Do list” can be accessed online at: https://njfams.hesaa.org/

If you do not adhere to the deadline, you may be ineligible for available federal and/or state financial aid programs for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

In order to complete an EOF application for Fall 2024, applicants must submit the required supporting financial documentation. EOF applications are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed for EOF admission until ALL documents are received.

Below are the required documents needed:

Biological/Adoptive Parent Financial Documents

If the applicant’s parents worked in 2022, submit:  

• Parent 2022 W2’s

If the applicant’s parents worked and filed taxes in 2022, submit:

• Parent 2022 W2’s
• Parent 2022 Income tax return (1040’s) with all schedules
• Parent 2022 AND 2021 IRS Tax Return Transcript

If the applicant’s parents did not work in 2022, submit

• Parent 2022 IRS Non-Filing form

Applicant Financial Documents

 If the applicant worked in 2022, submit:  

• 2022 W2’s

If the applicant worked and filed taxes in 2022, submit

• 2022 W2’s
• 2022 Income tax return (1040’s) with all schedules
• 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript

If the applicant is a permanent resident, submit:

• Front and back picture of residency card

Submit any documentation pertaining to the categories below (only if applicable):

• Guardianship
• Custody
• Ward of Court
• Adoption
• Homeless

Submit the following documentation if the applicant or anyone in the household received the following benefits in 2022:

• Social Security Benefits or SSI/Disability --> 1099 Form or Letter indicating total received in 2022
• Child Support Received -->  End of Year Statement/Letter from parent stating amount received in 2022
• Unemployment Benefits -->  W-2/1099-G Form from 2022
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) -->  Letter from Office of Social Services with totals received in 2022
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) --> Letter stating total received monthly in 2022/ SNAP form

Submit the following documents (only if applicable):

• Rental Real Estate, Royalties, Partnerships, S Corporations, & Trusts reported on IRS form 1040
  • Property Tax Assessment (City’s Tax Assessors Office)
  • Most Recent Mortgage Statement
  • Rental Real Estate, Royalties, Partnerships, S Corporations, & Trust Form
  • Schedule E from 1040

• Business Income reported on IRS form 1040
  • Business Income Form
  • Schedule 1 from 1040
  • Schedule C from 1040

• Dependent Monthly Expense Form
• Independent Monthly Expense Form

If the applicant is unsure which documents are needed to review their EOF application, e-mail us at EOFadmission@wpunj.edu.  

The EOF Office reserves the right to request additional financial documentation to determine eligibility. Intentional false statement(s) and/or misrepresentation(s) subjects the filer to automatic disqualification.

How to submit EOF supporting documents:

• E-Mail: eofadmission@wpunj.edu (preferred)
• Fax: 973-720-2053
• Mail:
  • WPUNJ-EOF Raubinger Hall Suite 140
  • 300 Pompton Road
  • Wayne NJ 07470

EOF Transfer Criteria for Admission

 This EOF application is ONLY for students who were enrolled in an EOF program at their previous institution.

•  EOF Transfer Admission Requirements: 2.0 GPA from previous institution & good standing with previous EOF program.
•  Financial Consideration: EOF transfer students must continue to meet the income eligibility guidelines for household income-based size as determined yearly by the NJ Commission on Higher Education. The EOF Office reserves the right to request additional financial documentation to determine eligibility.
• Program Requirements:  Admitted students are required to attend monthly cohort meetings and schedule monthly one-on-one meetings with assigned EOF Counselor.

Application Steps

•  Step 1: Complete a WPUNJ On-line Application 
•  Step 2: Submit this è  Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF) Transfer Student Application
  • You must first be accepted to WPUNJ in order to apply to the EOF Program.  Application is only accessible once you have access to your Microsoft 365 Account via WPConnect.
•  Step 3: Submit EOF Transfer Sector form from previously attended NJ College/University EOF program office indicating NJ state EOF funding status and semesters enrolled.

All correspondence should be sent directly to WPUNJ’s Educational Opportunity Fund Program by one of the following methods:

• E-Mail: eoftransfer@wpunj.edu (preferred)

Please Note:

• All students must complete the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) for each academic year by March 1^st, and add WPUNJ code to ensure your aid eligibility can be accessed by the WPUNJ Financial Aid department for transferring financial aid packaging purposes.

• The FAFSA can be obtained online at:  https://fafsa.ed.gov.
• We recommend that you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. It allows students and parents to access the IRS tax return information needed and transfer the data directly into their FAFSA. It’s the best way of ensuring that your FAFSA has accurate tax information.

• All students must complete their "To-Do list" from the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA).
• The “To-Do list” can be accessed online at: https://njfams.hesaa.org/
• If you do not adhere to the deadline, you may be ineligible for available federal and/or state financial aid programs for the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Deadlines for EOF TRANSFERS ONLY:

Fall: September 15 & Spring: February 15

Other Applicant Criteria for Admission

Other applicants are those who are:

• Current WPU Students (not first-time first-year)
• Transfer Students (not EOF Transfer Student)
• Readmit Students (previously WPU EOF student out for more than 2 years)

•  Admission Requirements: 2.0 GPA from previous institution or WPUNJ.
•  Financial Consideration: EOF applicants must meet the income eligibility guidelines for household income-based size as determined yearly by the NJ Commission on Higher Education. 
• Program Requirements:  Admitted students are required to attend monthly cohort meetings and schedule monthly one-on-one meetings with assigned EOF Counselor.

Application Steps

• Step 1: Complete a WPUNJ On-line Application 
• Step 2: Submit this è Current William Paterson University Student EOF Program Application
• You must first be accepted to WPUNJ in order to apply to the EOF Program.  Application is only accessible once you have access to your Microsoft 365 Account via WPConnect.
•  Step 3: Submit applicable financial supporting documents as indicated on the supporting documents tabs above.

• • Your application will not be considered complete or be reviewed for EOF admissions until all documents are received. 

 All correspondence should be sent directly to WPUNJ’s Educational Opportunity Fund Program by one of the following methods:

• E-Mail: eoftransfer@wpunj.edu (preferred)

Please Note:

• All students must complete the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) for each academic year by March 1^st, and add WPUNJ code to ensure your aid eligibility can be accessed by the WPUNJ Financial Aid department for transferring financial aid packaging purposes.

• The FAFSA can be obtained online at:  https://fafsa.ed.gov.
• We recommend that you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. It allows students and parents to access the IRS tax return information needed and transfer the data directly into their FAFSA. It’s the best way of ensuring that your FAFSA has accurate tax information.

• All students must complete their "To-Do list" from the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA).
• The “To-Do list” can be accessed online at: https://njfams.hesaa.org/
• If you do not adhere to the deadline, you may be ineligible for available federal and/or state financial aid programs for the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Deadlines for EOF TRANSFERS ONLY:

Fall: September 15 & Spring: February 15