Student Life • Georgian Court
This is where you belong.
Georgian Court isn't just a place to earn a degree — it's a community where you are known, supported, and challenged to grow. On a National Historic Landmark campus minutes from the Jersey Shore, your college experience is unlike any other in New Jersey.
319
Students living on campus — 4 residence halls
12:1
Student-to-faculty ratio — real relationships
345
Student athletes across 16 NCAA Div. II sports
114
Acres • National Historic Landmark campus
The GCU Experience
Student life built on three principles.
Belong.
A campus that feels like home from day one
With small classes, resident halls designed for community, and a faculty who know every student's name, GCU is built for belonging — not for getting lost in the crowd.
1,886
Total students — one of New Jersey's most intimate university communities
Believe.
Values that shape everything we do
Every program, policy, and tradition at GCU flows from the Sisters of Mercy's five core values: Respect, Integrity, Justice, Compassion, and Service. These aren't words on a wall — they're a way of life.
1908
Founded by the Sisters of Mercy — 118 years of Mercy mission on this campus
Become.
Experiences that build who you are
Whether you're competing on the field, volunteering in the community, leading a student organization, or finding quiet in the Japanese Garden — GCU life shapes the person behind the degree.
16
Varsity sports • NCAA Division II • Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference
Residence Life
Four residence halls. One community.
First-Year Students
Maria Hall
219
Capacity (max)
Three-story hall. Lounges overlook the Italian and Japanese Gardens. Home to most first-year residents.
First & Second Year Students
Saint Joseph Hall
145
Capacity (max)
Additional housing for first- and second-year students in a close-knit setting.
Juniors & Seniors
Saint Catherine Hall
84
Capacity (max)
Lounge areas, exercise areas, first-floor common room with fireplace and big-screen TV.
Honors Program Students
Saint Joseph Hall
~50
Students (approx.)
Every room has a private bath. Connected to the Dorothy Marron Chapel. Houses Campus Ministry and the Food Pantry.
319 Students
living on campus — across all four halls
Campus & Facilities
A campus unlike any other in New Jersey.
Once the Gilded Age winter estate of George Jay Gould, Georgian Court's campus is a National Historic Landmark featuring stunning Georgian architecture, formal gardens, and world-class academic and athletic facilities.
Sister Mary Joseph Cunningham Library
A 44,000-sq-ft modern library and central campus hub featuring an Esports Lounge, Presentation Prep Room, Multimedia Studio, group study rooms, computer labs, and booth seating.
Esports Lounge • Multimedia Studio • Career Services • Writing Center • Math Lounge • Peer Tutoring
Jeffries Hall & Science Center
Houses liberal arts and sciences departments, Dean of Students, Student Life, and the Office of Student Success. The attached Audrey Birish George Science Center provides two stories of modern laboratory space.
Art Gallery • Little Theatre • Veterans Lounge • Science Labs • Computer Labs
Wellness Center — LEED Gold Certified
World-class athletic and wellness facility earned LEED Gold certification in 2010 from the U.S. Green Building Council for sustainable design.
Arena • 2 Softball Fields • 2 Soccer Fields • Tennis Courts • 8-Lane Track • Lacrosse Field • Dance Studios • Fitness Center • Bookstore
The Mansion & Historic Buildings
The Mansion — designed by Bruce Price — features the Great Hall with Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales mural. The Casino, once housing an indoor polo court with more floor space than the original Madison Square Garden, hosts concerts and large events.
Great Hall • Court Tennis Court • Casino Arena • Health Services • Counseling Center
The Gardens
The Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum
Our campus has been described as "an art museum in an arboretum" — and once you visit, you'll understand why.
Formal Garden
Mathematical precision, Versailles-inspired sculpture, and color from spring through autumn.
Italian Garden
Where mythology meets marble — and a Gould-era vision of Italy comes to life.
Japanese Garden
Step through the gate — and into one of the finest Japanese gardens on the East Coast.
Sunken Garden
A hidden lagoon, centuries-old marble, and the most lavish garden Bruce Price ever designed.
Wellness Garden
Over 70 medicinal and herbal plants — in a student-designed garden built around healing.
Campus Dining
Two dining venues. One community table.
The Dining Hall
Raymond Hall Complex · All-you-can-eat meal plan dining
The main dining hall serves students, faculty, and staff and is the central gathering place for campus meals. Location confirmed in the Raymond Hall Complex.
Additional info...
Add: menu highlights, hours, payment methods from Dining Services.
Café at GCU
Patrick & Julia Gavan Student Lounge · Pay-as-you-go
A pay-as-you-go alternative located just east of the library in the Patrick and Julia Gavan Student Lounge — ideal for grabbing a quick meal between classes.
Additional Info...
Add: menu highlights, hours, payment methods from Dining Services.
Student Support
Every resource you need — in one community.
Writing Center
One-on-one writing support at any stage of your paper — brainstorming through final draft.
SMJC Library
Writing Support
TRIO Student Support Services
Federally funded program supporting first-generation, income-eligible, and students with disabilities.
Casino Building
TRIO Resources
Math Lounge & Peer Tutoring
Drop-in math help and peer tutoring services for all subjects — available in the library.
SMJC Library
Tutoring Services
Career Services
Career counseling, résumé review, internship connections, and job placement support.
SMJC Library
Career Resources
Global Education Programs
Study abroad opportunities, international partnerships, and the International Collaboration Center for global projects and presentations.
Jeffries Hall
Farley Center
Global Programs
Veterans Lounge
A dedicated space for student veterans and military-connected students to connect, study, and access resources.
Jeffries Hall
Military & Veteran Resources
Health Services
On-campus health services for routine care and wellness support.
Casino
Health Services
Office of Student Success
Academic advising, early alert support, and retention resources to keep you on track from first year to graduation.
Jeffries Hall
Student Success
Health & Wellness
Your wellbeing is part of the mission.
Counseling Services
GCU's Counseling Center is accredited by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS) — a distinction that reflects the quality and professionalism of our mental health support.
Casino
Counseling Services
Uwill — 24/7 Mental Health Support
GCU's partnership with Uwill gives all students immediate access to online counseling assistance and telehealth support year-round — including nights, weekends, and breaks.
Available online — anytime
Access Uwill
Campus Ministry
Rooted in the Mercy tradition, Campus Ministry supports spiritual growth, service opportunities, and interfaith community. Located in Mercy Hall, connected to the Dorothy Marron Chapel.
Mercy Hall • Dorothy Marron Chapel
Campus Ministry
GCU Promise
In 2023, GCU launched the "GCU Promise" initiative — providing additional financial resources to students who receive Pell and NJ TAG support, reinforcing our commitment to making success accessible for every student who belongs here.
NCAA Division II • Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference
345 Lions.
16 Total Sports.
One standard of excellence.
Our Lions compete at the NCAA Division II level in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). Whether you're a competing athlete or an enthusiastic fan, GCU athletics is a cornerstone of campus life.
3.49
Average cumulative GPA of student athletes — proof that Lions excel in the classroom and on the field.
Go Lions — View Athletics
Woman's Sports
Acrobatics & Tumbling • Basketball • Cross Country • Lacrosse • Soccer • Softball • Track & Field • Volleyball
Men's Sports
Baseball • Basketball • Cross Country • Lacrosse • Soccer • Track & Field
Wellness Center Facilities
Arena • 2 Softball Fields • 2 Soccer Fields • Tennis Courts • 8-Lane Track • Lacrosse Field • Dance Studios • Exercise Science Lab • Fitness Center • LEED Gold Certified (2010)
Our Mission & Values
Rooted in Mercy. Committed to justice.
Respect
Reverencing the dignity of all persons and all life as gifts of God, choosing to appreciate differences as strengths.
Integrity
Fidelity to moral principles, honesty, and sincerity as the basis of trustworthiness in all encounters.
Justice
Ordering right relationships with all persons, advocating for structures that protect the vulnerable.
Compassion
Embracing the joys and sorrows of others, moved to action in solidarity with the human community.
Service
Extending energy and resources on behalf of the poor, sick, and uneducated — working to relieve misery and address its causes.
GCU is a proud member of the Conference for Mercy Higher Education, a network of 17 Mercy colleges and universities serving over 35,000 students in 12 states.
Our History
118 years of educating the whole person
Founded in 1908 by the Sisters of Mercy of New Jersey as a women's liberal arts college, GCU began with an inaugural class of seven young women in North Plainfield. In 1924, the Sisters purchased the Gilded Age Gould estate in Lakewood — and the rest is history.
| 1908 | Founded by Sisters of Mercy as Mount Saint Mary's College |
| 1924 | Moved to the Gould Estate in Lakewood, NJ |
| 1978 | Entire campus entered into the National Register of Historic Places |
| 1985 | Campus designated a National Historic Landmark |
| 2004 | Georgian Court College achieves university status |
| 2013 | Becomes fully coeducational |
| 2025 | Ed.D. in Educational Leadership approved — 2nd doctoral program |
Visit Campus
Experience Georgian Court before you arrive.
Take a 360° virtual tour of our National Historic Landmark campus — or come in person and see why so many students say it was the moment they knew GCU was home.
