Ramapo Profile

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as number one among public comprehensive colleges in the north, 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 5,600 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 three graduate programs as well as joint degree programs with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and New York Chiropractic College.

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 17:1 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, all of which are incorporated throughout the curriculum and extracurriculum. The international mission is further accomplished through a wide range of study abroad and student exchange links with institutions all over the world through the New Jersey State Consortium for International Studies (NJSCIS).  Additional experiential programs include internships, co-op, and service learning.

A campus-wide building program during recent years has resulted in the completion of the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center, with its 2,200-seat arena, fitness center, climbing wall, track and dance/aerobics studio; the Overlook residence hall and the Village apartment complex. The Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts houses performance theaters, art galleries, and specialized spaces devoted to fine arts, computer art, photography, theater, dance, and music. In addition, construction is underway on Laurel Hall, a 435-bed, suite-style residence hall scheduled for completion in fall 2006.

In addition to Ramapo’s ranking in U.S. News, the College recently was recognized by two national publications.  An article in the February 2006 issue of Kiplinger’s magazine named Ramapo College among the top 100 public colleges and universities.  The article, “Best values in public colleges,” included the sub-head, “Yes, you can still get a first-class education at a reasonable price.”  Ramapo College also is one of 224 select colleges and universities profiled by The Princeton Review in the 2006 edition of The Best Northeastern Colleges.

Dr. Peter Philip Mercer became the College’s fourth president on July 1, 2005. The College is governed by a Board of Trustees who are appointed by the Governor of the State. Thomas Zelante, Esq. is the chairman of the board.

[ return to top ]