Admit rate has ranged 66%–73% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Ramapo College of New Jersey is a public liberal arts college that punches above its weight, offering a surprisingly intimate campus experience just 32 miles from Manhattan. With a 71% acceptance rate and strong retention numbers, it attracts students drawn to its scenic Mahwah setting, 40+ undergraduate majors (especially business and health professions), and a tight-knit community where 80+ clubs thrive. Its 70% graduation rate—well above national averages—hints at a supportive environment where students actually finish what they start.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
4,898
In-state tuition
$16,777
Out-of-state tuition
$27,708
Location
Mahwah, NJ (32 miles from NYC)
Student Clubs
80+
Acceptance Rate
71%
Graduation Rate
70%
Notable Programs
Business, Health Professions, Communication Arts
On-Campus Housing
38%
Avg. Early-Career Earnings
$43,000-$45,619
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$67,541
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.7×
Median debt at graduation
$21,000
Graduation rate
70%
First-year retention
84%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
73%
Pell (lower-income) share
44%
First-generation share
31%
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$79,631
Computer and Information Sciences, General$73,635
Accounting and Related Services$59,666
Information Science/Studies$55,547
Economics$47,260
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
94
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
27°F
Annual rain
54.3"
Annual snow
26.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.5%
Bottom → top quintile
40%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Ramapo College of New Jersey?
Ramapo College of New Jersey's acceptance rate is approximately 71% (Mahwah, NJ), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Ramapo College of New Jersey?
Admitted students at Ramapo College of New Jersey typically score 1130–1300 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Ramapo College of New Jersey cost?
At Ramapo College of New Jersey, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,173 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Ramapo College of New Jersey?
Ramapo College of New Jersey enrolls approximately 4,898 undergraduate students.
Where is Ramapo College of New Jersey located?
Ramapo College of New Jersey is located in Mahwah, NJ.
Admissions
Ramapo College is somewhat selective, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering around 71% (sources vary between 70.6% and 73.21%). The middle 50% of admitted students typically submit SAT scores in the range that aligns with the college's Medical Early Acceptance Program cutoff of 1340 (or 28 ACT), though exact score distributions aren't publicly detailed. Notably, the college does not have an open admissions policy, and its 2023-2024 waitlist included 817 qualified applicants. Gender parity in admissions is roughly even, with female applicants slightly outnumbering males (5,508 vs. 3,468 applications) but maintaining similar acceptance rates.
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$40,318
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Ramapo offers 40+ undergraduate majors, with business, health professions, and communication arts dominating student preferences. The curriculum leans practical but interdisciplinary—psych majors share campus with future nurses and musicians, all benefiting from small class sizes (the Reddit crowd calls the academics 'fine, not cutthroat'). Pre-med students should note the Medical Early Acceptance Program, which demands a 3.5 GPA and 1340 SAT for consideration, though some alumni caution that Ramapo's name doesn't 'wow' med schools. Graduate programs exist but play second fiddle to the undergrad experience.
Life here balances mountain views (the Princeton Review gushes about the scenery) with commuter-school pragmatism—only 38% live on campus. The 80+ clubs range from the expected (Cultural Club’s annual exhibit) to the niche, fostering a community where involvement trakes prestige. Instagram posts (#WeAreRCNJ) showcase a DIII sports culture and events like 'Roadrunner Days,' though the vibe skews more 'chill hangout' than 'raucous party school.' Proximity to NYC means internships and weekend trips are common, but the campus itself feels insulated—a 'quite beautiful' bubble in Mahwah.
Ramapo’s 70% six-year graduation rate (per University HQ) trounces national averages, and Forbes highlights its 87% first-year retention rate—8-10 points above peers. Early-career earnings hover around $43,000-$45,619 (Niche/College Factual), though this varies widely by major. The college touts these metrics in its Forbes 'Top Colleges' pitch, framing itself as a high-value public option where students actually graduate on time. Alumni networks aren’t Ivy-strong, but the ROI appeals to Jersey families seeking affordability with outcomes.
The average net price after aid is $17,348/year, with 70% of first-years receiving grants or scholarships (averaging $12,580). Institutional aid is common (64% get $6,546), but the college transparently notes its NPC estimates aren’t binding. Out-of-pocket costs depend heavily on aid packages—some score the $12,936 average aid package BigFuture cites, while others face the sticker price of a mid-tier public. Veterans and FAFSA filers find robust support, aligning with Ramapo’s access-minded mission.
Ramapo is the anti-commuter cliché—a public college with private-college vibes, where 70% graduation rates and mountain views defy expectations. Its strength lies in doing the basics well: keeping students engaged (hence the 87% retention), offering pragmatic majors, and fostering community without pretension. Not a cutthroat pre-med factory or a party school, it’s a high-value play for Jersey students who want small classes, NYC access, and a diploma that doesn’t drown them in debt.
Ramapo College of New Jersey logo · sourceRamapo College of New Jersey - New Jersey's Public Liberal Arts College · sourceRamapo College of New Jersey - New Jersey Business Magazine · sourceAround the Campus Community - Parents, Guardians & Families || Ramapo College of New Jersey · source
