The main campus is in Suffern, New York, but classes are also offered at an extension sites in Haverstraw, Nyack and Orangeburg.

The college has more than 525 full and part-time faculty members, including several Fulbright Scholars,[5] SUNY Chancellor's Award winners, and published authors and artists.

Rockland has the third highest transfer rate in the SUNY system and has a Continuing Education programs which served about 3,500 each year.

An institution called Rockland College, chartered by the state Board of Regents in 1878, existed for sixteen years in Nyack, New York.

At the time, Rockland County, the state's smallest in geographic area outside of New York City, was growing exponentially in population and in demand for a skilled, educated work force.

Between 1956 and 1970, Rockland's population was one of the fastest growing in the state, expected to double from 107,000 to 215,000 and the number of high school graduates was projected to rise from 700 to 2,463.

[15] Rápalo had sought to address the deficit via cost-cutting measures and replacing administrators to remedy the Rockland Community College’s financial problems.

Several major artist included, Billy Joel, Earth, Wind & Fire, Genesis, Meat Loaf, Styx and The Monkees.

[25] The following year, the college was named the fifth Campus Pride's 2018 Best of the Best LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges & Universities[26] In 2021, Rockland Community College received the Insight into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award[27] In 2022, Economic Mobility Workforce Innovation (EMWI) Division of Rockland Community College was introduced focusing on Workforce development that provides employment prospects in work markets by offering comprehensive certificate programs, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Medical credentials, Commercial Driver's License (CDL), Google IT, "stack-able" credentials and community educational programs such as Computer literacy and Scholastic Aptitude Test review courses.

Rockland Community College academic departments have oversight of the curriculum, textbooks, and student assessments offered at the high schools.

Students must be at least 18 years of age and meet the requirement of a minimum 3.0 GPA and two faculty recommendations when classes begin at Cambridge University in July or August.

Through the RCC/Learn America program, Mariners seeking work on board any vessel are required to complete a Coast Guard-approved Basic Training course.

[32] The Rockland Hawks compete in the Mid Hudson Conference and belong to Region XV of the National Junior College Athletic Association.