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GCU Partners with St. Joseph High School for Guaranteed Admissions

GCU president signing documents a ST. Joseph

Georgian Court University and St. Joseph High School, Hammonton, are partners in a guaranteed admissions agreement, giving St. Joseph students access to special scholarships, college-level courses and more.

Georgian Court University and St. Joseph High School in Hammonton are partners in a new agreement that will guarantee university admission and special scholarship opportunities to students.

The announcement, made earlier this month by GCU President Joseph R. Marbach, Ph.D., and outgoing St. Joseph principal Lynn Domenico, presents an attractive option to high school students looking to Catholic higher education for their college experience.

“We appreciate this opportunity to develop a partnership that we think will be long lasting in offering an affordable, accessible higher education for students throughout South Jersey,” said Dr. Marbach. “As the only Catholic university in central and southern New Jersey, we can serve that role—we have to. ”

Under the agreement, St. Joseph students will be guaranteed admission into GCU as full-time students on the conditions they graduate from the high school with an earned diploma, meet GPA and SAT/ACT requirements, and satisfy all other admissions application requirements. Another key feature of the agreement: Each student may qualify for at least $10,000 a year in special GCU scholarships for graduates of Catholic high schools. For exceptionally high achievers, the scholarship funding could be as high as $19,000.

“We know the value of a quality, values-infused education extends beyond students’ years at St. Joseph High School, and we are committed to helping families afford ways to continue that experience—now and later,” said Timothy M. Briles, Ed.D., associate professor and assistant dean of the School of Education, who is working with GCU’s Catholic Schools Initiative.

“This type of commitment to students is core not only to keeping the faith, but in providing a citizenry that’s imbued in the values that Georgian Court and St. Joseph’s represent,” he said.

Partnership With St. Joseph Prime Example of Collaboration

“This partnership is one example of the collaborations we are seeking, especially as we strengthen our ties to Catholic schools and institutions,” said Justin G. Roy, GCU’s dean of admissions. “We are thrilled to work with St. Joseph’s to promote Catholic education, and to helping families continue on the path of Catholic higher education.”

Overall, GCU’s Catholic Schools Initiative:

  • establishes specific scholarships for students attending Catholic high schools;
  • offers college-level classes to juniors and seniors at select Catholic high schools; and
  • dedicates two GCU admissions contacts to every Catholic high school in the Trenton, Metuchen, and Camden dioceses.

The St. Joseph’s partnership is one of several that GCU has finalized in recent months. In May 2016, for example, GCU announced a program to offer bachelor’s degrees at Brookdale Community College’s Hazlet location, and in early June, the university announced a partnership with Holy Cross High School in Delran.

Last year, in partnership with the Diocese of Trenton, GCU graduated seven teachers and administrators through an educational leadership master’s degree program for Catholic school educators and admitted a group of deacons studying theology as part of their formation program.

For more information about GCU’s partnerships with Catholic high schools, contact Dr. Timothy M. Briles at 732-987-2656 (tbriles@georgian.edu).

About St. Joseph High School

Guided by the Holy Spirit, Saint Joseph High School provides a comprehensive quality Catholic education that fosters excellence in scholarship, lifelong learning, enlightened citizenship, and moral integrity. Saint Joseph High School prepares its students to serve as leaders who will use their Catholic values and education to shape a world of social justice and peace. Saint Joseph High School was established in September of 1935 when the Pallottine Fathers opened a Prep-Seminary in Hammonton, and since 2007 has implemented a strong initiative toward academic excellence, professional development for teachers, and technology. Intensive scheduling, steady increases in SAT scores, and a rigorous Global Studies program are points of great pride. As always, service to others is the underlying tenet of all that is accomplished at Saint Joseph High School.

Aerial view of GCU.

About Georgian Court University

Georgian Court University is a leading regional university that provides a transformative education, preparing students for ethical leadership and service in the Catholic Mercy tradition. Founded in 1908 and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Georgian Court University is Central and South Jersey’s only Catholic university. The university has a strong liberal arts core and a historic special concern for women.

As a forward-thinking university that supports diversity and academic excellence, GCU is known for expanding possibility for more than 1,900 students of all faiths and backgrounds in 35+ undergraduate majors and 10+ graduate programs. The GCU Lions compete in 16 NCAA Division II sports in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). In 2020, GCU was named a Best Value College by Money.com and a Best Bang for the Buck (Northeast) by Washington Monthly. High student retention and graduation rates make GCU a Top Performer on Social Mobility on U.S. News & World Reports rankings.

The main campus is in Lakewood, New Jersey, on the picturesque former George Jay Gould estate, a National Historic Landmark. Georgian Court, which is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, also serves students through its Center for Professional Studies, and at other locations, including GCU at Brookdale, and through multiple online degree and certificate programs.

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). Additionally, deposits are also refundable up to June 1. Click here for more information about the deposit extension.