Bergen Community College Data Breach–What You Need to Know & What to Do Next
Overview
Bergen Community College reported a cybersecurity incident after the INC Ransom ransomware group claimed responsibility for an attack in mid-May 2026. The incident potentially exposed personal and educational data belonging to students, faculty, staff, and alumni across New Jersey’s largest community college.
Bergen Community College is a public community college founded in 1965 and opened in 1968, serving Bergen County, New Jersey. The college operates three campuses: its main campus in Paramus, the Ciarco Learning Center in Hackensack, and Bergen at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. As the largest community college in New Jersey, Bergen enrolls 13,352 students in degree programs and approximately 5,800 in continuing and adult education programs.
The college has graduated more than half a million students with associate degrees and certificates since its founding. Bergen is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and federal data rank Bergen graduates first in earning the highest salaries among their peers from New Jersey’s 19 two-year institutions.
According to ransomware threat intelligence, INC Ransom posted Bergen Community College to its data leak site on May 18, 2026, claiming to have stolen approximately 1 terabyte of data. The threat actors stated they would publish all the stolen data within one week if their demands were not met.
INC Ransom has been one of the most aggressive ransomware groups in 2025 and 2026, with over 200 victims posted to its leak sites in 2025 alone. The group has targeted educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and businesses across multiple sectors.
What Information May Have Been Exposed In the Bergen Community College Data Breach?
As of this writing, specific details about the types of data allegedly stolen have not been publicly disclosed. However, educational institutions typically maintain extensive records including student names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, student ID numbers, academic records and transcripts, financial aid information, tuition and payment records, email addresses and phone numbers, and employee personnel records.
Given that Bergen Community College serves over 19,000 students and faculty combined, the breach potentially affects a substantial number of current and former students, faculty, staff, and alumni dating back to the college’s founding in 1968.
How Bergen Community College Responded to the Breach?
As of this writing, Bergen Community College has not issued a public statement regarding the alleged ransomware attack. The college has not confirmed the incident or provided details about its investigation or notification plans.
Educational institutions that experience breaches involving personal information are required to notify affected individuals under various federal and state data breach notification laws. New Jersey has specific data breach notification requirements that would apply to Bergen Community College, including notification to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
How to Check If Your Personal Info Is Exposed
If you are a current or former student, faculty member, or staff member of Bergen Community College, your personal and educational records may have been exposed in this breach. This includes individuals who have attended the college at any of its three campuses or participated in continuing education programs.
Alumni who attended Bergen Community College at any time since 1968 may also be affected, as educational institutions typically maintain historical student records for many years.
Monitoring your accounts, reviewing credit reports, and watching for notification letters from Bergen Community College are crucial steps in assessing your potential exposure.
What You Can Do If Your Information Was Exposed
If your personal information may have been part of the Bergen Community College breach, review your financial accounts and credit reports for any unfamiliar activity. Update account passwords, particularly for college email accounts, student portals, or other educational systems where you may have reused passwords.
Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Given that Social Security numbers are commonly maintained in educational records, monitor for signs of identity theft.
Be cautious of phishing attempts following this breach. Scammers may send emails or texts claiming to be from Bergen Community College or related educational services. Verify any communications independently before responding or clicking links. Acting now can limit the long-term consequences and protect your personal and financial information.
Understanding Your Legal Rights: Data Breach Lawyer Near Me
Victims of data breaches may be entitled to legal remedies if an educational institution did not adequately safeguard their personal information. Educational institutions have duties under federal and state laws to protect the sensitive personal and educational information they collect and maintain.
Almeida Law Group is actively reviewing the Bergen Community College incident to determine what legal options may be available for those affected.
If you are a student, faculty member, staff member, or alumnus of Bergen Community College and believe your information may have been exposed, you can contact Almeida Law Group for a free consultation.
