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About Georgian Court

GCU. Where
Infinite
Possibilities
Await You.

GCU Students

We’re GCU: A Co-Ed, Forward-Thinking Institution Dedicated To Your Growth And Success.

AN EVEN BETTER TOMORROW

Georgian Court University expands possibility. Our holistic education prepares students for diverse careers and further study. But more than that, it transforms them into global citizens with a powerful sense of purpose. We give you the tools to be your best: a broad liberal arts education, real-world opportunities to engage more deeply with your passions, and a supportive community that’s always there for you.

Founded in 1908 by the Sisters of Mercy, our Roman Catholic tradition informs our commitment to the community and the world around us. After becoming fully coeducational in 2013, we continue to maintain our historic special concern for women. Students of all faiths and backgrounds come together here, united by our mission and mercy core values of respect, integrity, justice, compassion, and service.

Guided by president Dr. Joseph R. Marbach and GCU Strategic Compass, we’re moving toward “an even better tomorrow.” We hope you’ll share in our conviction that all students have the capacity to change the world—for the better.

STUDENTS

Get a life-altering student experience where you’ll be nurtured and empowered. We’re recognized for our affordability and social mobility, helping underserved students thrive.

FACULTY

Learn from devoted professors that both support and challenge you. Many GCU students pursue hands-on academic research or capstone projects that address important social issues.

ATHLETICS

Join the 300+ student-athletes participating in 15 NCAA Division II teams. Get access to fitness and recreation facilities, including our Wellness Center and Athletics Complex with five fields.

LOCATION

Visit our awe-inspiring campus in Lakewood, New Jersey. GCU is a National Historic Landmark that’s close to the Jersey Shore and between New York and Philadelphia.

new york times top 20% overall mobility logo
top performer for social mobility logo
Transfer honor roll logo

11:1

Max Student-to-Faculty Ratio

1,471

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT POPULATION

98%

STUDENTS RECEIVING AID FROM GCU

95%

FULL-TIME FACULTY WITH DOCTORAL DEGREES

34%

FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS

Top 20%

OVERALL MOBILITY INDEX

Teacher teaching students in a classroom

GET THE

GCU ADVANTAGE

What students like about GCU is our close-knit campus community—we have a small-college feel with big opportunities. We’re focused on supporting your interests, inside and beyond the classroom. You’ll not only get an exceptional education here, but you’ll also be ready to build on your degree to create a more just and compassionate world.

The Georgian Court University advantage includes:

We offer 35+ undergraduate programs, 12+ graduate programs, and a variety of evening programs taught across four schools. Select programs are also available in partnership with regional community colleges through GCU@Brookdale.

I chose GCU for the care and concern that the entire campus community has for the students here. I was not only prepared for each semester, but I was constantly prepared for the real world and life after graduation.
miriam hunte
MIRIAM HUNTE '16 – M.P.A.
Compliance Monitor and Reporting Specialist NYC Housing Authority

BE INSPIRED

BY CAMPUS

Come achieve great things with us in a spectacularly beautiful place to live and learn. Set on an estate formerly belonging to financier George Jay Gould, our campus is only 10 miles from the Jersey Shore, and 60 miles from New York and Philadelphia. Bordering Lake Carasaljo, GCU features magnificent architecture, statues, and lush gardens.

If you’re interested in visiting us, here’s how you can see GCU:

Aerial View of GCU

OUR PROMISE

GEORGIAN COURT DELIVERS TO THE WORLD-ENGAGED CITIZENS WHO HAVE INTEGRITY, INTELLECTUAL SURETY, AND A POWERFUL SENSE OF PURPOSE. GEORGIAN COURT GRADUATES DO WELL AND THEY DO GOOD.

SEE WHAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE

We offer what no other college in New Jersey does: a life-affirming education in the Catholic Mercy tradition, where students do more than they ever thought possible. Our rich history and core values are why we teach a truly liberal, yet specialized, curriculum; why we emphasize ethical leadership and service; and why we strive to make college more affordable. Though we specialize in preparing students for caring professions, we strive to graduate caring professionals, regardless of major.

GCU Fast Facts

FOUNDED
In 1908 by the Sisters of Mercy

CAMPUS
Located in Lakewood, New Jersey, nearby the Jersey Shore and midway between Philadelphia and New York City

TYPE OF INSTITUTION
A private, comprehensive liberal arts Catholic university in the Mercy tradition. GCU offers undergraduate, graduate, and online programs, and has been fully coeducational since fall 2013. The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

SCHOOL COLORS & MASCOT
Blue & Gold; Roary the Lion

ENROLLMENT (FALL 2022)

  • 1,471 undergraduate students
  • 491 graduate students

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT PROFILE (FALL 2022)

  • 71% female, 29% male 
  • 21 states represented
  • 34% first-generation college students
  • 39% Pell Grant eligible
  • 58% Roman Catholic (freshmen, fall 2021), 39% Roman Catholic (new transfers, fall 2020)
  • 34% nonwhite
  • 285 student-athletes

FACULTY (FALL 2022)

  • 95 full-time instructional faculty members, supplemented by 162 industry professionals as adjunct faculty
  • 95% of full-time faculty members hold doctoral degrees

FINANCIAL AID (FALL 2022)

  • Types of aid: Merit- and need-based scholarships, grants, loans, work-study or part-time jobs on campus, outside scholarships
  • 99% of first-year, full-time students receive financial aid
  • over $17 million in financial aid is awarded annually by GCU
  • $33,017 is the average financial aid package

For more information about the average cost of attendance, loan repayment rate, and average salary of GCU graduates—and to check out how GCU compares to other New Jersey colleges—visit our College Scorecard.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Endowment: $53,415,761 as of 6/30/2022 (audited)

HOUSING
About 30% of full-time undergraduate students live on campus in four residence halls

STUDENT ACTIVITIES & ATHLETICS

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

  • Women in Leadership Development (WILD) encourages women to assume critical leadership roles in the community and their chosen fields.
  • The Office of Global Education opens up the world of cultural and educational exchange to students and faculty, empowering them with the skills to lead and a commitment to global citizenship and engagement. Global education incorporates curriculum, international partnerships, study abroad, global awareness on campus, community outreach, and enrollment.
  • Student Success helps GCU students increase study, note-taking, test preparation, and time-management skills, and it provides tutoring.
  • The Educational Opportunity Fund is a New Jersey State program designed to broaden access to college for all students.

In the late 1800s, Lakewood was well known as the winter playground for the elite of New York City and Philadelphia, with sprawling country estates nestled among the spruces and pines. Georgian Court University is located on one such estate: the George Jay Gould estate.

The estate was established in 1896 by the son of railroad magnate Jay Gould. Construction on the estate began 10 years after George Gould married lovely young actress Edith Kingdon. A second residence and winter getaway for the Goulds, Georgian Court provided recreation, relaxation, and healthy pine air for the Goulds and their seven children.

Gould engaged the famous New York architect Bruce Price to transform his newly purchased property into a lavish country estate. He had in mind something on the order of the great estates in England and Scotland, the comforts of which he had often enjoyed. Gould and Price agreed to develop the land in the style of an English estate of the Georgian period, which would substitute a gracious order for the wild terrain. Consequently, the name Georgian Court seemed appropriate.

The estate featured an indoor swimming pool, court tennis court, and bowling alley, all housed in what is now called the Casino and completely restored. Gould’s estate also boasted a Sunken Garden, Japanese Garden, Formal Garden, and classical Italian Gardens, which still grace the campus with their natural and sculptural beauty.

After George Gould’s death, his heirs decided to sell the estate to the Sisters of Mercy. Since 1908, the Sisters of Mercy had founded and operated Mount Saint Mary College in North Plainfield, New Jersey. In 1924, the Sisters of Mercy purchased the estate and relocated the college to the Lakewood campus, renaming it Georgian Court College. In 2004, the institution was granted university status. The campus is a National Historic Landmark and hosts an accredited arboretum. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

PUBLICATIONS
AND POLICIES

Browse the college catalog, download our Student Handbook, or read the latest issues of GCU Magazine.

DEPARTMENTS
AND OFFICES

Use our A–Z list to find contact information for departments, offices, centers, and other important locations at GCU.

PHONE
DIRECTORY

Need to get in contact with a specific person? Our phone directory lists extension codes for GCU faculty and staff.

Are you a parent?

Going to college is a major life experience—and deciding which schools to apply to is often a family decision. At GCU, we’ll help your student cultivate their potential to make a difference in this world. As you’re navigating the admissions process, we encourage you to reach out to us and get to know Georgian Court.

DISCOVER GCU.
GET IN TOUCH.

Location
900 Lakewood Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701
Get directions

Contact Information
Phone: 732-987-2705
Undergraduate Admissions: admissions@georgian.edu
Graduate Admissions: gps@georgian.edu

Office Hours
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday: By appointment
Sunday: Closed

Deposit Deadline Extended to June 1

Georgian Court University has extended the deposit deadline to June 1 in response to the U.S. Department of Education announcement concerning delayed data availability from the revised Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Click here for more information about the deposit extension.