Ramapo College of NJ

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as fifth in the Best Regional Universities North category for public institutions, Ramapo College of New Jersey is sometimes mistaken for a private college. This is, in part, due to its unique interdisciplinary academic structure, its size of approximately 6,008 students and its pastoral setting in the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains on the New Jersey/New York border.

Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor's degrees in the arts, business, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include nursing and social work. In addition, Ramapo College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels. The College also offers six graduate programs as well as articulated programs with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New York Chiropractic College, New York University College of Dentistry, SUNY State College of Optometry and New York College of Podiatric Medicine.

Undergraduate students choose to concentrate their studies in one of five schools with more than 700 course offerings and 40 academic programs. Ramapo College boasts an average student/faculty ratio of 18:1 and average class size of 23, affording students the opportunity to develop close ties to the College's exceptional faculty.

The College's mission is focused on the four "pillars" of a Ramapo education: international, intercultural, interdisciplinary and experiential (hands on), all of which are incorporated throughout the curricula and extracurriculars. The international mission is further accomplished through a wide range of study abroad and student exchange links with institutions all over the world. Additional experiential programs include internships, co-op and service learning.

The College’s interdisciplinary commitment helps students push intellectual boundaries; our commitment to experiential, hands-on learning allows them to push personal and professional boundaries as well. The commitment of our faculty to attentive teaching and mentoring empowers students to learn actively and attain the skills they will need to succeed professionally and become lifelong learners.

A campus-wide building program during recent years has resulted in the completion of the Anisfield School of Business academic facility, a central feature of the main entrance to the campus; the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center, with its 2,200-seat arena, fitness center, climbing wall, track and dance/aerobics studio; the Overlook and Laurel residence halls and the Village apartment complex. The Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts, completed in 1999, houses performance theaters, art galleries and specialized spaces devoted to fine arts, computer art, photography, theater, dance and music. The Sharp Sustainability Education Center and the Salameno Spiritual Center were completed in 2009.

Ramapo College of New Jersey is listed in the January 2012 issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine as among the "100 Best Values in Public Colleges" for 2012. This is the seventh consecutive year Ramapo has been included in the "100 Best Values in Public Colleges." The college was ranked #48 for in-state tuition and fees, one of three public institutions of higher education in New Jersey included.

Ramapo College also is one of 220 institutions recommended by The Princeton Review in the "Best in the Northeast" section in the 2012 edition of The Best Northeastern Colleges.

Ramapo College has achieved accreditation of its business degree program by the Board of Directors of The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-AACSB International, the largest global accrediting body for business schools offering undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. Ramapo College joins an elite group of institutions with less than 5% of business schools worldwide earning the distinction.

Dr. Peter Philip Mercer became the College's fourth president on July 1, 2005. The College is governed by a Board of Trustees who is appointed by the Governor of the State. The chairman of the board is A. J. Sabath ‘93.