A new set of value-added rankings, published this time by The Economist, places Georgian Court University in the top 10 percent of all four-year colleges and universities—#119 among 1,275 schools—that were reviewed using federal College Scorecard data. The Economist reported the expected median earnings at $41,012 for a GCU graduate a decade after college, but actual median earnings are closer to $45,700, nearly $4,700 over expectations.
“We are very pleased that The Economist has recognized the success of our alumni,” said GCU President Joseph R. Marbach, Ph.D. “This is another example of a third party validating the value-added, values-based education provided by Georgian Court. Our mission is to improve and transform lives, and measures such as this one are indicators that we are succeeding in this mission.”
While the earnings information is welcome news, the publication’s first-ever college rankings reflect more than monetary success. The Economist also considered factors such as SAT scores, students’ chosen fields, demographics, and the presence of business programs. GCU’s ranking by the magazine is fourth among New Jersey schools listed by The Economist behind Stevens Institute of Technology, Rutgers University-Newark, and the College of St. Elizabeth; 20 other New Jersey colleges and universities fall elsewhere on the list.
The Economist is the most recent publication turning its attention to value-added variables to rate colleges and universities. The Brookings Institution released similar data in recent months, and in July 2015, Georgian Court University was named #25 on Money magazine’s Top 50 Colleges That Add the Most Value. In August, GCU was ranked as a “Best Bang for the Buck” by Washington Monthly. Catholic Colleges of Distinction also added Georgian Court to its ranks in October.
