Ramapo College of New Jersey

<h4 id="section---Cons"> Cons</h4> <ul><li>Total cost of attendance is $11,763 higher than the national average for public, four-year schools </li><li>Room and board cost is $3,195 higher than the national average </li><li>Student debt following graduation is $3,393 higher than the national average </li></ul><h3 id="section---RankingsSchoolAnalysis"> Rankings &amp; School Analysis</h3> <p>According to <i>U.S. News and World Report</i> (<i>USNWR</i>) in 2014, Ramapo held the #33 spot among regional (northern) universities and was rated #6 on its list of top public schools in the region. In 2012, <i>Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine</i> named Ramapo in its '100 Best Values in Public Colleges' list, and The Princeton Review identified it as a Best Northeastern College. </p> <p>Classes at Ramapo are of fairly average size; the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) listed Ramapo's student/faculty ratio as 17:1 in 2012. While this is slightly higher than the 2012 national average ratio of 15:1 (reported by NCES in its <i>Digest of Education Statistics</i>), you're still likely to get personal attention, as Ramapo reported in 2013 that its average class size was 23. The average four-year graduation rate for students beginning in 2006 was 60%, according to NCES, which compares favorably to the national average of 40% reported by <i>USNWR</i>. </p> <p>Available majors, minors, and concentrations at Ramapo are organized into five schools: social science and human services, theoretical and applied science, business, contemporary arts, and American and international studies. Pre-professional programs are also available; Ramapo combines with partner institutions, including New York Chiropractic College and SUNY State College of Optometry, to offer pre-professional and professional degree programs. Ramapo also offers graduate programs in business administration, educational leadership and technology, liberal studies, nursing, and sustainability studies. </p> <p>NCES reports that during the 2012-13 school year, New Jersey residents paid $29,623 to attend Ramapo ($30,280 to live off campus). These costs include tuition, fees, and living expenses. Out-of-state students paid $38,103 ($38,760 to live off campus). At four-year, public universities, the national average cost of attendance was $17,860 for in-state students and $30,911 for out-of-state students, according to The College Board (TCB), so Ramapo's rates are significantly higher than average. </p> <p>Room and board costs are also higher than the averages reported by TCB; campus housing costs at Ramapo averaged $12,400 in 2012-13, while off-campus living expenses averaged $9,785. While 68% of freshmen with financial need in 2011 received aid, the average Ramapo student graduated with $30,053 in debt as of 2011, which is higher than the national average of $26,660 reported by the Institute for College Access and Success. </p> <h2 id="section---GettingInFinancialAid"> Getting In &amp; Financial Aid</h2> <p>To apply to Ramapo, you can use the common application or apply online; you'll need a credit card to pay the $60 application fee, and you must also submit high school transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, and two letters of recommendation. For the 2013-14 school year, the deadline for regular admission was March 1, according to TCB; Ramapo reported that notification of acceptance would be made no earlier than April 1. </p> <p>Ramapo requires no specific minimum scores or GPAs, but the admissions office reports that admitted students usually rank in the top 20% of their classes. According to Ramapo, incoming students have average ACT scores of 26 or middle 50% SAT scores between 1080-1280. Extracurricular activities are viewed favorably by Ramapo's admissions committee. The 2012 acceptance rate was 47%, according to NCES; no 2012 national average is available, but this rate is lower than the 2011 rate of 63.8% reported by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), meaning Ramapo is more selective than average. </p> <p>You can apply for financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-study, by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The financial aid priority deadline for the 2013-14 academic year was March 1, according to TCB. TCB reports that 79% of freshmen with need received aid in 2012, and 16% of students had their full need met. Scholarships are also available through both Ramapo and private sources. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Application and Tuition Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Regular Application Deadline (2013-14)</i> </td><td> Mar 1****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Financial Aid Priority Deadline (2013-14)</i> </td><td> Mar 1****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Admission Notification Date (2013-14)</i> </td><td> Apr 1 (regular decision)*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Application Fee (2012-13)</i> </td><td> $60**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Acceptance Rate (2012)</i> </td><td> 47%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>All Tuition &amp; Living Expenses (2012-13)</i> </td><td> $29,623 (in-state, on-campus)<br /> $38,103 (out-of-state, on-campus)**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average First-Year Financial Aid Package (2011)</i> </td><td> $12,880****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Percent of Students with Need Met (2011)</i> </td><td> 16%****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average Student Debt at Graduation (2011)</i> </td><td> $30,053****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Loan Default Rate (2010)</i> </td><td> 6.3%**</td></tr> </table><h2 id="section---LifeAtRamapoCollegeOfNewJersey"> Life at Ramapo College of New Jersey</h2> <p>Students who live on campus have eight student housing options, two of which are reserved for freshmen. Some residence options require you to have a meal plan, while the meal plan is optional in other residence halls. While most Ramapo students are New Jersey natives (96% in 2011, according to NCES), Ramapo reports that the class of 2011 included students from Bulgaria, Lebanon, Trinidad, China, Nigeria, and Kenya. </p> <p>Over 100 students organizations offer plenty to do on campus no matter what your interests are. Ramapo features a recreation center offering a variety of sports and recreational activities, including a climbing wall and a dance studio. Ramapo is less than an hour from New York City, and the region surrounding the campus offers a number of outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, snowboarding, fishing, and nature walks. Ramapo's campus is 16.8 miles from the local Greenwood Lake Airport and 35.5 miles from Newark International Airport, so it's easy for residents to travel. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Student Life Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Setting</i> </td><td> Large suburb**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Population (2012)</i> </td><td> 5,624 undergraduates**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Male-to-Female Student Ratio (2012)</i> </td><td> 42% to 58%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Full Time Students (2012)</i> </td><td> 90%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of In-state Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 96%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of International Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 1%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Retention Rate (2011-2012)</i> </td><td> 88% (full-time)**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Housing Available</i> </td><td> Yes**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Students Living on Campus</i> </td><td> 51%****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Number of Libraries</i> </td><td> 1*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Extracurricular Activities</i> </td><td> More than 100 student organizations*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Noteworthy</i> </td><td> Operates an observatory featuring a 20-inch, research-grade telescope*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *Ramapo College of New Jersey, **National Center for Education Statistics, ***U.S. News &amp; World Report, ****The College Board.</i> </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolContactInformation"> School Contact Information</h3> <ul><li><i>Address:</i> Ramapo College of New Jersey, Office of Admissions, McBride House, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430 </li><li><i>Phone:</i> (201) 684-7300</li></ul>