Bergen Community College is a public community college in Bergen County, New Jersey. It was founded in 1965 and opened in 1968. , it is the largest community college in the state, with campuses in Paramus (main campus), Hackensack (Ciarco Learning Center), and Lyndhurst (Bergen at the Meadowlands) and 13,352 students enrolled in degree programs, as well as approximately 5,800 in continuing and adult education programs. Federal data rank Bergen graduates first in earning the highest salaries among their peers from the state's 19 two-year institutions, and even out-earning peers from some four-year colleges. Bergen has graduated more than half a million students with associate degrees and certificates since its founding in 1968.

Bergen Community College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Individual programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, the National League for Nursing, the American Dental Association, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services, and the American Physical Therapy Association. The Paralegal Studies program and the Legal Nurse Consultant program are approved by the American Bar Association.

Paramus campus The college's Paramus main campus includes the Technology Education Center (opened 2003), the Health Professions Integrated Teaching Center (opened 2016) and the STEM Student Research Center (opened 2019).About Us, Bergen Community College. Accessed June 10, 2020.

Athletics BCC is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association in Region XIX (New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania) and of the Garden State Athletic Conference. The college participates in the following intercollegiate sports: Fall: men's cross country; women's cross country; men's soccer; women's soccer; volleyball Winter: men's basketball; women's basketball; wrestling Spring: baseball; softball; men's track and field; women's track and field

Free speech controversy In 2014, after Francis Schmidt, a tenured professor, filed a grievance over denial of sabbatical leave, the college suspended him for eight days and required him to consult a psychiatrist before returning to campus, claiming that a photo he posted to social media of his seven-year-old-daughter wearing a t-shirt quoting Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen could be construed as a threat of violence against college officials. The college faculty cited the incident as a factor in a vote of "no confidence" in college president Kaye Walter. The suspension was rescinded, with Schmidt receiving back pay for the suspension period, and a college spokesman acknowledged to Schmidt that "By sanctioning you as it did, BCC may have unintentionally erred and potentially violated your constitutional rights, including under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution". The Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression conferred one of its annual Jefferson Muzzle Awards for "the past year's most outrageous and ridiculous affronts to free speech and press" on the college administration, declaring that it had "demonstrat[ed] its collective cluelessness on two distinct levels".

Notable alumni

Daisy Fuentes (born 1966), television host, comedian and model"Celebrity Then And Now: Daisy Fuentes", Stanton Daily. Accessed February 21, 2018. "After graduating from high school in 1984, she enjoyed modeling but dreamed of becoming a hairstylist and owning her salon so she briefly enrolled at cosmetology school before dropping out to study communications at Bergen Community College." Mike Laga (born 1960), former professional baseball player for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants in the 1980s and 1990sLaurila, David. "Mike Laga", Society for American Baseball Research. Accessed February 21, 2018. "Despite his success on the baseball diamond, Laga went undrafted out of high school and enrolled at nearby Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he played half of one season before transferring to Bergen (New Jersey) Community College. It was there that Laga's smooth left-handed stroke began catching the attention of scouts, and in the January phase of the 1980 draft the Tigers took him with their first pick." Dennis McNerney, politician who served as the County Executive of Bergen County from 2003 to 2011County Executive Dennis McNerney, Bergen County, New Jersey, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 6, 2006. Accessed February 21, 2018. "Dennis McNerney is a lifelong resident of Bergen County. He graduated from Bergen Catholic High School, attended Bergen Community College, the University of Delaware, and went on to receive his Masters Degree in Public Administration from Columbia University." Liv Morgan (born 1994), professional wrestler and multi-time champion in the WWEVarsallone, Jim. "Video: WWE Champ Liv Morgan Talks Packers, Red Sox, SummerSlam, Hooters & More", Kee on Sports, July 27, 2024. Accessed September 5, 2025. "She became a competitive cheerleader (more to be part of something) while at Becton Regional High School.... Instead of having to repeat her sophomore year (as requested by the school), she opted to drop out of that East Rutherford school. Six months later, she passed a test for her GED and then attended Bergen Community College." Vincent Prieto (born 1960), politician who represented the 32nd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2004 to 2018 and served as the 170th Speaker of the AssemblyFriedman, Matt. "New N.J. Assembly speaker, a former bodybuilder, promises to flex political muscle", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 5, 2014. Accessed February 21, 2018. "Prieto picked up English quickly, but couldn't grasp the language's odd spellings. Instead, he took to numbers and, after spending two semesters at Bergen Community College, dropped out to pursue a career in plumbing." Kyle Scatliffe (born 1986), stage actor best known for playing Enjolras in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables and Harpo in the 2015 Broadway Revival of The Color PurpleFeldberg, Robert. "Westwood's Kyle Scatliffe stars in Les Miserables", The Record, March 9, 2014, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 18, 2016. "After high school, he attended Bergen Community College in Paramus, and then spent two years at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, studying acting and refining his vocal gift, including receiving training in opera."

References

External links

Official website