Ramapo College of New Jersey (RCNJ) is a publicliberal arts college in Mahwah, New Jersey. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education. As of the fall 2021 semester, there were a total of 5,732 students enrolled at the college, including 576 graduate students and 11 doctorate students.[2] The school has a "somewhat selective" acceptance rate.[5]
In the late 19th century, the Ramapo Valley was developed for large estates by many wealthy families. Ramapo Valley is named after the Ramapough, a band of the Lenape Indians. Theodore Havemeyer and his family arrived in the area in the 1870s. Havemeyer, a founder of the American Sugar Company, purchased and renovated a home on the road that would become Route 202 and developed more than 1,000 acres (400 ha) surrounding the mansion into a farm. In 1889 he had a second mansion built on the property for one of his daughters. That mansion and about 700 acres (280 ha) of the original 1,000 were later purchased by Stephen Birch, president of the Kennecott Copper Company.[6]
In 1968, the New Jersey Department of Higher Education authorized establishing a new state college in Bergen County, due to its increasing population and suburbanization. The criteria for the new college's location were sufficient land for the construction of current needs and future expansion, and proximity to at least one major highway. The locations of existing public and private institutions in the state were also taken into consideration.[6] The college was planned to serve economically deprived students from urban and rural areas, in addition to a full range of middle-class families.
George Potter, an administrator at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, was appointed the first President of the college before a location had been determined.[6] After many board meetings, it was decided that the former Birch Estate in Mahwah would be the location for the new college. Although the land was farther north than originally intended for the campus, its proximity to Route 17 and mountainous surroundings made it an attractive site.[6]: 19 The architects drew up plans for an L-shaped, glass-walled facility consisting of five two-story academic buildings connected by large entry spaces, with each building devoted to a particular department or division. The architects recommended this approach to allow for rapid construction of additional wings onto the various entry spaces, allowing quick expansion of the college.[6]
The former Havemeyer mansion was adapted as the president's house, and the former Birch Mansion was renovated to be used as the administration building of the college.[6] Rodney David Smith served as college's third president, from July 1, 2001,[7] to June 30, 2004.[8] He was succeeded by Dr. Peter Philip Mercer,[9] who was succeeded by Cindy Jebb on July 6, 2021.[10]
Academics
Ramapo College offers bachelor's degrees in the arts, business, the social and natural sciences, and the humanities, as well as in professional studies programs such as nursing and social work. Seven programs are offered leading to a master's degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MAEL), Master of Science in Educational Technology (MSET), Master of Arts in Special Education (MASE), Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSN), and a Master of Science in Accounting (MSAC). The college also offers a physician assistant (B.S./M.S.) and physical therapy (B.S./D.P.T.) with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; a B.A./Master's degree program in Art Therapy with Caldwell University; a B.S./Doctor of Chiropractic with New York Chiropractic College; a B.S./D.D.S. and a B.S./D.M.D. with the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine; a B.S./Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) with SUNY State College of Optometry; and a B.S./Doctor of Podiatric Medicine through New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM).
The five interdisciplinary schools include the Anisfield School of Business (Dean Edward Petkus), the School of Contemporary Arts (Dean Ken Goldstein), the School of Humanities and Global Studies (Dean Susan Hangen), the School of Social Science and Human Services (Dean Aaron Lorenz), and the School of Theoretical and Applied Science (Interim Dean Edward Saiff).
Accreditation
The administration building at Ramapo College, built in 1889, was formerly Birch Mansion
Ramapo College was established in 1968 as a state-supported, co-educational, four-year College for liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Ramapo received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in 1975. Individual programs also received accreditation. The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the Chemistry Program is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the Teacher Certification program is approved by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) and the State of New Jersey, and the Anisfield School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
U.S. News & World Report ranks Ramapo 37th among 196 "Regional Universities in the North" in its 2018 list.[11]
According to Forbes, as of 2018, Ramapo College of New Jersey was rated #370 in Top Colleges, #127 in Public Colleges, and #143 in the Northeast region.[12] However, in 2019, Forbes ranked Ramapo College at #341 in Top Colleges, #116 in Public Colleges, and #133 in the Northeast region, and ranked Ramapo at #206 in America's Best Value Colleges of 2019.[13]
In 2023, Ramapo College's Nursing School was one of 17 New Jersey graduate schools to rank nationally, according to the U.S. News & World Report. The same article noted that Ramapo College is additionally ranked by U.S. News as the No. 2 public institution in New Jersey.[14]
For its 2025 edition of "Best Colleges," U.S. News & World Report ranked Ramapo College as the 27th best in "Regional Universities North" (tied), 10th best in "Top Public Colleges," and 72nd in "Best Value Schools," marking an increase in all three rankings from previous editions.
Campus
The Salameno Spiritual Center in front of the C-Wing Academic Building at Ramapo College
Praised for its accessibility and modernity which is juxtaposed by the picturesque outdoors, Ramapo College, which lies at the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains, was named by CondeNast Traveler as one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America in 2020.[15]
The 300-acre (120 ha) campus includes dozens of modern academic buildings, offices, eating facilities, and athletic playing fields and gyms. It also features an array of theaters and art galleries. Several dormitories have been built in the last twenty years.[16] There is a "Spiritual Center" (see picture).
The school has an independent FM radio station, WRPR, 90.3 FM, a free-form station featuring numerous genres and talk shows.
The men's basketball team won the 2017 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs. However, Ramapo was eliminated after the second round of playoff competition.[17]
The hockey team won the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference title for 2016–2017 season.
Student supporters of Ramapo College's athletic teams are known as the Ramapo Rowdies.
Ramapo College of New Jersey CDP, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
^Hann, Chris (Fall–Winter 2009). "Ramapo College Celebrates 40 Years". Ramapo Magazine. Ramapo College of New Jersey. Retrieved August 6, 2019 – via issuu.com.
^Lauren H. Carson, Rhode Island General Assembly. Accessed February 23, 2018. "She obtained a Master’s degree in History from the University of Rhode Island in 2008 and her Master in Business degree from URI in 1992, and earned a BA in sociology from Ramapo College in New Jersey."
^Chozet, Tara. "ESPN New York 98.7FM Signs Don La Greca to Multiyear Extension", ESPN Media Zone, August 27, 2015. Accessed February 17, 2018. "La Greca graduated from Ramapo College in 1992 with a degree in communications. In 2014, La Greca was honored by the College with its Distinguished Citizen Award, given for his 'personal and professional commitment to advance higher education and for his significant service to the community.'"
^Herzog, Laura. "YouTube comedian recounts SNL failure at Ramapo College graduation", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 15, 2015. Accessed February 17, 2018. "YouTube comedian Grace Helbig, a 2007 graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey who gave this year's commencement speech on Friday night, now has her own E! show. Before that, she failed a lot."
^"How hit show This Is Us is connected to NJ — NO spoilers, scout’s honor!", WKXW, February 23, 2017. Accessed February 17, 2018. "First, the cast includes New Jersey native, Ron Cephas Jones. The Paterson native who plays William (Randall's biological dad) graduated John F. Kennedy High School and then attended Ramapo College in Mahwah. Jones also has had recent roles in Mr. Robot & Luke Cage."
^Trutor, Clayton. "Mark Leiter", Society for American Baseball Research. Accessed February 23, 2018. "Mark played baseball at Connors State Junior College in Warner, Oklahoma, a perennially nationally-ranked junior college team, and in 1983 he played far closer to home at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey."
^"The Final Goodbye For Hon. Joshua Orwa Ojode". Gusii.com. June 17, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2018. Upon graduation from Maranda, Hon. Ojode proceeded to Ramapo State College of The University System Of New Jersey, in Mahwah, New Jersey, United States. When he graduated from Ramapo State in 1991, Hon. Ojode returned to Kenya.
^Hess, Elizabeth. Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human, p. 102. Random House, 2008. ISBN9780553904703. Accessed February 23, 2018. "Laura-Ann Petitto, an ambitious undergraduate from Ramapo College in New Jersey, often transported Nim from the LaFarges' home to Columbia for his classes."
^Duggan, Amelia; Spelling, Ian (May 9, 2012). "Big Name, 'Small' Start: Famous people who entered the world in Bergen". Bergen.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2018. Jeff Phillips, 1968 Veteran soap actor Jeff Phillips was raised in Hillsdale and went to Pascack Valley High School and Ramapo College.
^Shattuck, Kathryn. "Two Actors Find the Perfect Parts in Love", The New York Times, September 16, 2016. Accessed February 23, 2018. "He was also a baseball player at Ramapo College in New Jersey before working as a production assistant and an actor for Estelle Parsons and then winning a 2010 Drama Desk Award as a member of the Godlight Theater Company."
^"Rumors swirling around Dave Brock at Delaware", On the Banks, January 18, 2013. Accessed February 23, 2018. "Skrosky is from Lodi in Bergen County and went to college at Ramapo, giving him obvious local ties to New Jersey."
^"Alumni". Ramapo College Literature Department. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
^Tedder, Michael. "The Power of Negative Thinking", The Village Voice, October 31, 2012. Accessed February 17, 2018. "Stickles’s mom is a student assistance counselor in New Jersey, 'which is like being a guidance counselor, but it’s exclusively about feelings.' His dad is a high school principal, and his stepmom teaches second grade. Well read as a kid, he majored in literature and minored in philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey."
^Paulson, Dina. "The Story Behind 'Across Which the World' by Laura McCullough", Compose, March 29, 2017. Accessed February 17, 2018. "She teaches full time at Brookdale Community College, has taught at Stockton University and Ramapo College, and is on the faculty of the Sierra Nevada low-res MFA where she teaches poetry and critical theory."
