Frequently Asked Questions

In addition to our main campus offerings, William Paterson University offers a wide variety of fully-online bachelors, masters, and certificate programs designed to help you achieve your personal and career goals. Find the right online program for you.

Learn more about the WP Online experience.

In addition to our online programs, William Paterson University offers a variety of educational pathways to meet the needs of the lifelong learner. View all our academic programs.

Read more about our Undergraduate Transfer Credit Process and Procedures.

Students may transfer up to 90 credits via completed coursework or credit equivalencies for professional certifications, but they must earn at least 30 institutional credits to meet the degree requirements of 120 credits and to qualify for graduation.

Upon admission, the University will evaluate your transcripts to determine institutional equivalencies for prior credits completed depending on the degree and major you selected on your application. The analysis contains a summary of credits applied towards your degree and remaining requirements necessary to complete your degree.

Applicants can check their application status by going to wpunj.edu/admissions/undergraduate/how-to-apply/my-application-status.

If you need to defer your acceptance/start date to a later term or if you are no longer interested in attending WPU, follow these steps.

Applicants gain access/credentials to WPConnect within their acceptance letter:

• It is recommended that you view the YouTube video on how to navigate WPConnect

Students are to contact their respective advisor as noted on their Admissions Acceptance Letter to schedule an initial advisement virtual appointment to review their degree evaluation and formulate an academic plan. Include in communication, name, student ID, major, and preferred days/times to meet.  If a student has additional questions regarding advisement and/or registration contact WP Online advisors at [email protected].

To drop a course:

• Go to wpunj.edu/wpconnect
• Students tab; Registration section; Click on Add/Drop Classes, select the term

If unable to drop the course on WP Connect, send an email to [email protected] and copy your advisor. The system will not allow you to drop all your courses from a term. Speak to your advisor before withdrawing from all your courses in a term. Please review academic calendar for refund information on the WP Online Calendar.

To learn how to register for a waitlisted course, please watch this short video.

Your PIN is your six-digit date of birth (mmddyy).

Student Enrollment Services is available to address your inquiries and continue to process billing, payment, financial aid, and record inquiries. Here are all the ways you can reach them:

• Website: Student Enrollment Services
• Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Phone: 973-720-3945
• Text: 973-358-8994
• Email: [email protected] – Be sure to check your William Paterson email account.
• Virtual Meeting: Kindly call or email us to schedule an appointment using your William Paterson University email account.

Visit the Student Services page to learn more about our Student Enrollment Services department.

See the WP Online Calendar.

To ensure students are set up for success, WP Online does not allow late admission or late registrations.

Log in to WPConnect to review or print your unofficial transcript.

Visit our student enrollment services records page to locate the necessary information to be included on a request. Be sure to use your William Paterson University email account.

If applying for financial aid, instructions are available at WP Financial Aid.

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please include the William Paterson University school code: 002625
• Monitor your student email for further instructions from the Financial Aid Office or log in to WP Connect (student tab)

All University communications regarding your financial aid awards will be posted in the student portal, WPConnect, and sent to your university email account.

How to view your Financial Aid through WPConnect:

• Login to WPConnect 
  • Please enter your William Paterson University (855) ID and your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Do not confuse this with your federal FSAID.
• Student’s tab: ‘Financial Aid’ section, click ‘My Eligibility,’ and Select Aid Year

You should be able to see any Financial Aid holds or unmet requirements. To review Financial Aid Awards:

• Student’s tab: ‘Financial Aid’ section, click ‘My Award Information’, click ‘Award By Aid Year,’ and select Aid Year, review each tab.

Refer to the Federal Student Aid Deadlines.

Students taking three credit hours per part of term are considered part time. Students taking six credit hours per part of term (“Spring 2” or “Fall 1”) are considered full time.

No. Students must pay in full if financial aid requirements are not met by the deadline. Students should check WPConnect and their student email for financial aid updates and required actions.

Yes. You will be invited to complete an online orientation for your major when you meet with your advisor. This is a self-paced unit filled with useful information and specifically created for your program of study.

Transfer students who completed, or are in their final semester of completing, the requirements for an A.A., A.S. or A.F.A degree from an accredited college or university with a general education program similar to that specified in the NJ State transfer agreement will be considered to have completed all lower division university core curriculum requirements. These students will have junior status upon entering William Paterson University (with exception of courses that may be required for the major). A.A.S. degrees that include 30 credits or more of courses identified as general education will be treated the same as A.S. degrees. Note: For those students who enter without an earned Associate Degree are required to complete various University Core Curriculum (UCC/General Education) requirements. Read more about these general education requirements.

Students will utilize Blackboard to access course work. Visit our Blackboard FAQs page for more helpful tips.

The Center for Degree Completion and Adult Learning (DCAL) recognizes that not all learning has resulted from the traditional classroom. We strive to work with students who come to us with a vast array of work experience and training through the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). PLA provides the student with the opportunity to earn credit for learning outside of the confines of a traditional classroom. This prior learning may be a result of your work experience, formal corporate or military training, business ownership, volunteer work/civic leadership, and more. To be awarded credit for prior learning, you must be able to demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes required in a bachelor’s level course. Learn more about Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). If you have any questions reach out to Johanna Prado at 973-720-3035 or [email protected].

Course shells from the immediate past semester are kept active well into the ensuing semester for the convenience of students who need to finish incompletes. If you’ve hidden your courses or cannot locate your previous courses, write the instructor who taught the class and ask him/her to re-activate classes for you.

William Paterson University recognizes that not all learning has resulted from the traditional classroom. We strive to work with students who come to us with a vast array of work experience and training through the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). PLA provides the student with the opportunity to earn credit for learning outside of the confines of a traditional classroom, but also allows the learner to illustrate what they know through the construction of a professional, guided portfolio assembly. This path may save students both time and money as they work toward their degree.

The Center is here for your support and guidance as you navigate your academic journey to degree completion.

You can build upon your professional experience to earn additional credits toward your degree through each of the following methods of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA):

• Portfolio Assessment - Students can complete a portfolio for assessment of prior, non-college experience that may equate to college credit.  The portfolio process might be right for you if you have developed college-level knowledge, skills, and abilities, and are able to demonstrate that these skills meet the learning objectives of an academic course without having had formal training or college credit in the area. Details about Portfolio Assessment.

• Credit by Examination - Students can demonstrate their knowledge and gain credit through standardized national exams such as the CLEP, AP, IB, TECEP, CPEP,  departmental challenge examinations, and credits through transfer (to a maximum of 90).

• Military Credits - Students can earn degree credit for military training and experience by providing transcripts from ACE, CCAF, AART, JST, SMART, and the U.S. Coast Guard Institute. They will need to provide the Registrar's office or the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs with their official transcripts, which can be ordered through Joint Services Transcript (JST), along with a copy of their DD214 (military discharge document).

• Course Challenge Exams - These exams are developed by departments for students wishing to "test out" of a course by demonstrating competency in course learning outcomes.

• Professional Training - Students may earn credit for professional training programs they have completed and for which they hold documentation of successful completion and learning outcomes. Professional training examples include but are not limited to CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, CCNA certification, Human Resource Management (SHRM/PHR/SPHR), Project Management certification, Supply Chain Management certification, Digital Marketing certification, Certified Medical Assistant CCMA, and Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT).

Learn more about Prior Learning Assessments. If you have any questions email [email protected] or call 973-720-3035 or 973-720-2732.

To apply for graduation, log into WPConnect >> Student Tab >> Header >> Graduation. Students completing their degree during Summer, MUST apply for the August graduation period. Graduation application deadlines are as follows:

APPLICATION DEADLINES
JANUARY	September 1
MAY	December 1
AUGUST	June 1

Note: Students completing their degree requirement during the summer and wish to walk/participate in May Commencement Ceremony must apply for August graduation. Learn more about WPUNJ’s Commencement Ceremony.

Undergraduate students must satisfy the following: a minimum of 120 credit hours, a program of study (must complete a major), University Core Curriculum and World Language requirements (as applicable) and minimum grade point average of 2.0 in a major and overall cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.  

Undergraduate students must have a grade point average of 2.00 overall GPA, a major declared, and at least 90 credits earned or in progress (including transfer credit) to apply for graduation.

Yes, all William Paterson University students—main campus, online, or offsite—are welcome to attend the University in-person graduation ceremony.

Your PIN is your six-digit date of birth (mmddyy).

Information Technology at William Paterson University strives to provide state-of-the-art technology solutions that meet the needs of our university community, and we are committed to providing the best user support possible. User Services consists of the Help Desk, Field Services, Enterprise Desktop Support, and Technology Consultants. In coordination, they triage technology-related requests, resolve technical problems, develop technology infrastructure, and more. If you encounter information technology or user services issues, our team can assist. Simply reach out to our IT Help Desk online or call 973-720-4357.

Yes. All official communications after acceptance will occur via your university email. This means communication with Advising, Financial Aid, and all other university support services. Please remember your login credentials. You may set up your William Paterson University Outlook email to forward messages to your personal account.

All Blackboard questions and problems should be directed to the IT Help Desk.  You should expect an answer within 24 hours, but most responses will come sooner. Please include as much detail as possible, such as the department and number of your course and the exact nature of your need. Browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer are all certified by Blackboard for this version of Bb Learn, but experience has demonstrated Chrome creates the fewest problems for users. Mac users should avoid the Safari browser and use Chrome or Firefox instead. Blackboard Collaborate will only work with Google Chrome. Blackboard works best when users have installed the latest version of Java.

Instructions are found in each student’s acceptance letter.