Ramapo College of New Jersey is 2.7 miles from Suffern
No college sits inside Suffern’s boundary, but Ramapo College of New Jersey’s campus in Mahwah, with 5,272 students on campus, is 2.7 miles from the center of town, and Rockland Community College is 3.3 miles away in Suffern. About 6% of Suffern’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New York (7%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Suffern. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
16
37,852 students on campus
Nearest college
2.7 mi
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Residents in college
6%
About the same as NY (7%)
Nearest community college
3.3 mi
Rockland · $6,862 tuition
Nearest public university
20.9 mi
CUNY Lehman College · $7,410 in-state
Median household income
$105K
prices below start here
What stands out about college from Suffern
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
11 private colleges within 15 miles, two public colleges within 11.9 miles, and four community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, CUNY Lehman College, is 20.9 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What it costs
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Family income
Starts at $75–110k, where Suffern’s median household income ($104,607) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Bergen Community College21% graduate$47k earnings$12k typical debt
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
Questions about college near Suffern
Is Suffern a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Suffern residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New York (7). The nearest campus, Ramapo College of New Jersey, is 2.7 miles away in Mahwah.
What colleges are near Suffern?
16 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Bergen Community College (11.4 miles, 9,883 students on campus), Ramapo College of New Jersey (2.7 miles, 5,272) and William Paterson University of New Jersey (11.9 miles, 5,114).
What is the closest community college to Suffern, and what does it cost?
Rockland Community College in Suffern, 3.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,862 a year for New York residents; the federal net price, $11,282, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does CUNY Lehman College cost if we live in New York?
Tuition and fees are $7,410 a year in-state and $15,360 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $1,589 (under $30,000 income) to $13,600 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Suffern. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →
Photo: Alexisrael · CC BY-SA 3.0