Yeshiva Gedolah of Cliffwood

The academic offering at Yeshiva Gedolah of Cliffwood is intensely focused. The only major offered is Talmudic and Rabbinical Studies. This singular focus defines the entire educational experience, which is built around deep engagement with Jewish religious texts and law. The institution offers academic scholarships that are "especially important for students whose records show strong classroom results over time." The school's profile on the federal College Scorecard provides data on cost, graduation rates, financial aid, and typical earnings, though the specifics for this institution are not detailed in the provided snippets. The 4-year graduation rate is listed in one source as 1900.00% for 2021, an anomalous figure that likely represents a data reporting error, underscoring the challenges in capturing this unique institution within standard higher education metrics.

Life at Yeshiva Gedolah of Cliffwood is defined by its scale, location, and religious purpose. It is a small 4-year private institution located at 200 Center Street in Keyport, New Jersey. The total enrollment is minimal; one source notes an "enrollment of 32 students." The environment is almost certainly all-male, given its classification as a "Yeshiva Gedolah," a term traditionally referring to post-high school yeshivas for men. There is no information available about extracurricular activities, campus facilities, or residential life in the provided sources, suggesting student life is almost entirely oriented around the yeshiva's religious studies and communal observance.

Outcome metrics for Yeshiva Gedolah of Cliffwood diverge sharply from national norms for four-year colleges, reflecting its non-traditional mission. The first-year retention rate is 33.3%, indicating that a majority of entering students do not return for a second year. Graduation rates are notably low: the 6-year graduation rate is 19.1%. Another source cites a 57% graduation rate after six years, but clarifies this is also the rate after eight years, suggesting very few students complete degrees beyond that timeframe. For comparison, a similarly named institution, Yeshiva Gedolah Shaarei Shmuel, reports a four-year graduation rate of 9%, "placing the institution in the lowest 5%." These figures likely reflect a student body where many attend for a year or two of intense religious study before moving on to other yeshivas, work, or community life, rather than pursuing a formal bachelor's degree.

The cost structure at Yeshiva Gedolah of Cliffwood is relatively low compared to typical private colleges, but financial outcomes vary significantly by source. The published tuition is $8,550 for both in-state and out-of-state students. However, estimates for the total cost of attendance range up to $17,850. The average financial aid package is reported as $6,382 per year in grant and scholarship aid. The average net price—the cost remaining after grants and scholarships—is a critical figure for families. Multiple sources provide conflicting numbers: one states $8,025, another states $17,850, and a third discusses it as a calculated figure based on various factors. The school offers academic scholarships based on strong classroom results. There is no information in the provided sources about a no-loan policy or a commitment to meeting full demonstrated financial need.

Yeshiva Gedolah of Cliffwood stands out as an institution of pure focus, utterly unconcerned with the conventions of mainstream American higher education. It is not a university in the traditional sense but a yeshiva gedolah—a place for advanced Talmudic study for Orthodox Jewish men. Its singular academic offering, tiny size, and demographic homogeneity create an environment of intense, immersive religious learning. The statistical portrait—high acceptance, low retention, minimal graduation—isn't a sign of failure but a reflection of a different purpose. For its target students, the value isn't in a degree or a career ROI, but in the years spent in dedicated Torah study. It exists outside the rankings frenzy, serving a specific community with a specific spiritual mission, making it one of the most niche and purpose-driven post-secondary institutions in the country.