Georgian Court University: A Legacy of Mercy, Leadership, and Academic Excellence

Georgian Court University (GCU), a private Catholic university in Lakewood Township, New Jersey, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Sisters of Mercy. Founded in 1908, GCU has evolved from an all-women's college to a coeducational institution, while remaining steadfast in its commitment to providing a transformative education rooted in ethical leadership and service. With a rich history, a strong academic foundation, and a dedication to empowering students of all backgrounds, Georgian Court University continues to be a leading regional university.

A Historical Overview

The story of Georgian Court University began in 1908 with the establishment of Mount Saint Mary College in North Plainfield, New Jersey. The Sisters of Mercy, with a special concern for women, founded the institution as a liberal arts school exclusively for women. In 1924, the college was renamed Georgian Court College, and in 2004, it achieved university status, becoming Georgian Court University. While it began admitting male students in 1994, it remained deeply rooted in its heritage as a women's college for over a century.

The university's main campus is located in Lakewood, New Jersey, on the picturesque former George Jay Gould estate, a National Historic Landmark. The estate's design is credited to Bruce Price, a New York architect, and includes notable gardens such as the Italian Gardens, the Sunken Garden, and the Formal Garden. Takeo Shiota designed the Japanese Garden. The campus maintains much of its original architecture and also features the Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum.

For more than a century, from 1908 to 2015, the institution was headed by Sisters of Mercy. The first eight presidents (1908-2015) of the school were all Sisters of Mercy. In 2015, Joseph R. Marbach became the first male and first permanent lay president. On February 6, 2025, Eugene J. Cornacchia became Interim President of Georgian Court University.

Academics and Programs

Georgian Court University offers a wide array of academic programs through its various schools: the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business and Digital Media, and the School of Education. Students can choose from over 30 undergraduate majors and more than 25 graduate programs.

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In July 2021, the university formally created the Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing & Wellness at Georgian Court to house its undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.

The university does not require submission of standardized test scores, Georgian Court being a test optional school.

Georgian Court University (GCU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor's degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation), bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study.

UniRank provides a matrix of Georgian Court University courses divided into 6 main fields of study and 4 levels of degrees, from the lowest undergraduate degree to the highest postgraduate degree.

Georgian Court University's library does not have any external branch. The library collection is comprised of both physical (i.e. books, medium, etc.) and digital/electronic items. In 2021 the library reported 130,289 physical volumes, 5,159 physical media, 66,265 digital/electronic media and 109 licensed digital/electronic databases. The library is managed by a total number of 14 full-time employees, including 6 librarians. Georgian Court University's library has a total library expenditure greater than $100,000 per year.

Rankings and Recognition

Georgian Court University has consistently received recognition for its academic quality, affordability, and commitment to student success.

In 2026, Newsweek named Georgian Court one of the top 50 colleges for women nationally in its inaugural America’s Best Colleges for Women rankings. Newsweek, in partnership with Gender Fair, assessed colleges using federally reported data across four core categories: leadership opportunities for women, pay and policy equity, campus safety, and pathways to opportunity and success. The ranking evaluated more than 751 colleges and universities nationwide, placing Georgian Court among a select group of institutions recognized for their commitment to women’s leadership, equity, safety, and student success. This recognition affirms the university's long-standing mission, rooted in the Sisters of Mercy’s enduring Critical Concern for Women, which prioritizes women’s education, health, and spirituality.

Georgian Court University has been recognized by Research.com in several key 2026 rankings, earning distinction for academic quality, affordability, and strength in online and career-focused programs. The 2026 Research.com rankings were compiled through an extensive analysis of data from multiple trusted sources, including Peterson’s, IPEDS, and the College Scorecard.

News & World Report rankings, climbing 16 spots in the Best Regional Universities North category. The university now ranks 95th for the 2024-2025 academic year, up from 111th in the previous year. The university also improved its standing in the Top Performers on Social Mobility category, moving to 90th from 103rd.

GCU has been named to Phi Theta Kappa’s Transfer Honor Roll for eight consecutive years, recognizing it as one of the most transfer-friendly institutions in the nation. News & World Report’s rankings, and in 2024, GCU was named one of the best Online Master’s Colleges in New Jersey.

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A Commitment to Women's Leadership

Georgian Court University's commitment to women's leadership is deeply embedded in its history and mission. Founded as an all-women’s institution, Georgian Court has been a trailblazer in advancing women’s education and leadership for more than a century.

Today, 100% of Georgian Court’s deans are women, compared to approximately half nationwide. This legacy reflects the Sisters of Mercy’s enduring Critical Concern for Women, which prioritizes women’s education, health, and spirituality. These values are embedded in Georgian Court’s academic programs, leadership development, and community life.

Campus Life and Athletics

Georgian Court University provides on-campus housing and the total dormitory capacity, whether on or off campus, was about 497 students in the 2021 academic year. In particular, this institution offers some courses via distance education at the undergraduate level and at the graduate level.

The GCU Lions compete in 16 NCAA Division II sports in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). GCU features a 67,000-square-foot (6,200 m2) Wellness Center equipped for athletic training, physical education and sports competitions.

Women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track & field, and volleyball. On August 3, 2022, GCU announced the addition of Acrobatics and Tumbling. As of fall of 2013, Georgian Court added men's sports when it became fully coeducational, adding men's basketball, cross country, soccer, and track & field. Men's lacrosse was added in Spring 2016.

One of the many historic aspects of the campus is that it houses a "real tennis" court that was built in 1899 in the Casino building (which was a "casino" in the 19th-century sense of the term: a place for social gatherings. Approximately 45 real tennis courts are still in use in the world today.

Admissions and Demographics

Georgian Court University received 2,317 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 12.6% annual growth. Out of those 2,317 applicants, 1,634 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 70.5% acceptance rate. Georgian Court University has an overall enrollment yield of 14.2%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

In 2024, Georgian Court accepted 75.8% of undergraduate applicants, with those enrolled having an average 3.59 high school GPA.

The enrolled student population at Georgian Court University is 61.5% White, 13.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.96% Black or African American, 2.72% Two or More Races, 1.99% Asian, 0.314% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.105% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Tuition and Financial Aid

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Georgian Court University is $35,360, which is $10,785 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575). After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $21,072.

In 2023, 75% of undergraduate students attending Georgian Court University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 44% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

In 2022 the default rate for borrower's at Georgian Court University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 660 total borrowers.

Getting to Georgian Court University

The main campus is in Lakewood, New Jersey, on the picturesque former George Jay Gould estate, a National Historic Landmark.

From the North:

Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 91. Stay to the right and go to the fourth traffic light and make a right turn onto Route 526 (Lanes Mill Road). Go approximately 5 miles (Lanes Mill Road becomes County Line Road) and make a left turn onto Route 9 (southbound) to Ninth Street. Turn right onto Ninth Street and continue to end.

Take I-95 North, I-295 North or the New Jersey Turnpike to Exit 7A. Take I-195 East to Exit 28A. Follow Route 9 South to Ninth Street (approximately 6 miles). Turn right onto Ninth Street and continue to end.

Taxi, buses, train.

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