Brookdale is an open-admission college that admits anyone 18 years of age or older, or anyone who is a high school graduate or holder of an equivalency diploma.

The college also offers courses to qualified high school students through its Dual Enrollment Program.

[4][5] On July 24, 2012, College President Peter F. Burnham, who had retired from a 20-year tenure after corruption allegations surfaced pleaded guilty to two indictable (felony) counts of official misconduct and one count of theft by deception in a plea agreement that called for a five-year prison term.

The program has won eight NJCAA Division III National titles: softball (2002, 2005 and 2010), women's soccer (2013, 2014 and 2015) and men's basketball (2013 and 2018).

Classes and services were offered at Brookdale's Wall Higher Education Center (on the grounds of the former US Army installation Camp Evans).

The Center examines the key events of the time; the political and military leaders who waged the wars, provided the leadership, made the peace; and those who served on the battlefield and home front.