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Business · Finance Rank #210 of 431

Financeat William Paterson University of New Jersey

Graduates earn $49,895/yr in their first year — about 10.0% below the national Finance average. Base-case 10-year earnings $699K; scenarios range from $618K to $728K depending on AI disruption.

Wayne, NJ Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
73 STRONG
74
Optimistic
71
Pessimistic
Earnings
$49,895
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$699K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at William Paterson University of New Jersey

Graduates earn $49,895/yr, roughly in line with the $55,340 national median for Finance. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Finance programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Finance's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $49,895 far exceeding the $19,786 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #210 of 431 Finance programs, William Paterson University of New Jersey scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $75,574 show a 51% jump from the $49,895 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$618K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple10.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$699K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple11.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$728K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple12.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to William Paterson University of New Jersey's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Finance graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Chief executives
+4.3% 10-yr growth · 22,200 openings/yr
$206,420/yr
High
2
Financial managers
+14.8% 10-yr growth · 74,600 openings/yr
$161,700/yr
High
3
Financial risk specialists
+6.5% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$106,000/yr
High
4
General and operations managers
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 308,700 openings/yr
$102,950/yr
Moderate
5
Personal financial advisors
+9.6% 10-yr growth · 24,100 openings/yr
$102,140/yr
High
6
Financial and investment analysts
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 25,100 openings/yr
$101,350/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Finance

How William Paterson University of New Jersey stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
82
DW Score
$123K
1-yr earn
8.2x
ROI
Georgetown University
DC · Private nonprofit
80
DW Score
$106K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Washington University in St Louis
MO · Private nonprofit
81
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
6.6x
ROI
University of Notre Dame
IN · Private nonprofit
79
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
4.5x
ROI
Wake Forest University
NC · Private nonprofit
78
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
4.4x
ROI
Also at William Paterson University of New Jersey

Other top programs at William Paterson University of New Jersey

Other highest-scoring programs offered at William Paterson University of New Jersey, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Finance offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Finance trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Finance at William Paterson University of New Jersey

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Finance at William Paterson University of New Jersey?

This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Finance nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Finance careers?

With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $618,472 in decade earnings vs $728,192 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.