The incoming class is the second largest and most diverse in college history.

September 14, 2023

The semester is now underway, and Ramapo’s newest students are making the transition to #HomeSweetPo with the support of returning students, faculty, and staff. Welcome Week provided nonstop opportunities for incoming students to get to know campus, each other, and embark on a path to success. Students enjoyed a warm welcome from move-in to Arching, from Maroon Monday to Convocation, and from the Student Involvement Fair to the first days of classes. Our newest Roadrunners  are off to a strong start with the support of the Ramapo community.

The incoming class of first-year and transfer students brings an extraordinary range of talent to Ramapo. In this class, you see students who awaken their curiosity, lead boldly, and think critically. In these students, you see Ramapo, and we are excited to see what both new and returning students accomplish this year and during their time as Roadrunners. The Class of 2027 includes:

• A Union County student who was a Waksman Student Scholar and completed research in molecular biology and bioinformatics published in GenBank, the NIH genetic sequence database.
• A Passaic County student who was the four-year president of their high school’s art club and turned their love for art into community service and entrepreneurship by painting murals of book covers on the town’s public library walls and painting windows for local businesses.
• An Ocean County student who was a four-year field hockey varsity starter, Key Club and National Honor Society member and volunteered to teach youth athletes in local sports clinics as well as assist with food drives to help those experiencing food insecurities.
• A Bergen County student who is a founding member of a data management LLC, built the company’s website infrastructure, and brings their talents to Ramapo as a computer science major.

Ramapo College proudly welcomes 1025 first-year students, the second largest incoming class in college history, a 20% increase from last year. Within this class, there are:

• 100 students participating in the Educational Opportunity Fund program
• 140 students enrolled in Ramapo’s 4+1 programs and joint medical or law school programs
• 94 students proudly wearing the Roadrunner logo as NCAA DIII athletes on the field, court, track, diamond, and in the pool.
• 46% of first-year students who identify as first-generation, the highest percentage in college history
• 48% of first-year students who identify as non-White
• Students from all 21 counties in New Jersey, as well as Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and Rhode Island are represented in the Class of 2027
• Students from Ireland, Nepal, Spain and United Kingdom

The incoming students demonstrate an impressive scope and range of accomplishments as well, including:

• Four high school valedictorians
• 5 salutatorians
• 85 team captains
• 6 class presidents
• 7 drum majors
• 14 club presidents
• 5 editors-in-chief
• 8 EMTs or volunteer firefighters
• 9 entrepreneurs

The top five majors in the class are:

1. Nursing
2. Undeclared
3. Psychology
4. Biology
5. Marketing

Being undeclared is welcomed at Ramapo College, because it is here where students find out what their passion is in the liberal arts curriculum, which provides a host of interdisciplinary opportunities to explore academic fields. It is here where they forge relationships with faculty and staff who serve as mentors to help navigate the more than 100 majors and minors available to them. Follow @ramapocollegenj to see the paths Ramapo students carve for themselves. Best wishes to the entire Ramapo community for a happy, healthy, and meaningful academic year!