Georgian Court University

What it reported doing in 2024

Instructional degree program as of fall 2024, georgian court university enrolled 1,890 students across more than 30 undergraduate and 25 graduate programs offered through the school of business & digital media, the school of arts, sciences, and education, and the hackensack meridian health school of nursing & wellness at gcu. The university's fastest-growing and most competitive degree program, the bachelor of science in nursing (bsn), benefits from a partnership with hackensack meridian health, one of New Jersey's largest healthcare networks. In 2024-25, gcu graduated its fourth cohort of students from the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (a.b.s.n.) program. In 2025, georgian court launched a doctor of education (ed.d.) in educational leadership, the second doctoral program in the university's history. Our history georgian court university, located in historic lakewood, New Jersey, is the only catholic institution of higher education serving residents throughout central and southern New Jersey. Founded as a women's college, gcu served women in all programs, while men were admitted only to evening and graduate courses, usually part-time, until september 2012. The university became fully coeducational in september 2013, adding men to residence halls and launching men's athletics. By the 2024-25 academic year, georgian court's undergraduate population was 65% female and 35% male. Georgian court provides students with a values-based liberal arts education that enhances their marketability after graduation, emphasizes purposeful leadership, and prepares graduates to contribute meaningfully in their careers, communities, and personal lives. The university emphasizes the importance of formation, whole-personhood, and experiences that help students become just, compassionate members of society. These efforts are supported by the office of mission & ministry, which organizes programming on catholic intellectual traditions and experiential learning opportunities. As a roman catholic university, georgian court welcomes students of all religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, guided by its mercy core values: respect, integrity, justice, compassion, and service. The student experience georgian court offers a curriculum that engages students in both personal and professional exploration. The small student-faculty ratio of 13:1 allows for personalized learning and promotes success through high-impact practices such as learning communities, service learning, faculty-led research, study abroad, internships, and capstone projects. One notable example of these practices is the work of gcu nursing students during the pandemic and beyond. The university's commitment to student success is particularly impactful for first-generation college students, who made up 30% of the fall 2024 freshman class, and for students from lower-income families, with 46% of freshmen receiving pell grants in fall 2024. Accolades in 2025, georgian court earned its highest placement in over five years in u.s. News & world report's best colleges rankings for top performers on social mobility, rising 23 spots to #80 in the best regional universities north category. The recognition highlights georgian court's growing success in supporting students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and ensuring their persistence through graduation. Gcu also earned a spot on phi theta kappa's 2025 transfer honor roll, highlighting it as one of the most transfer-friendly institutions in the u.s. The university was one of only five New Jersey colleges or universities to receive the prestigious recognition each year since 2018. Growth, retention and achievement graduate programs at georgian court continue to thrive online and in person, attracting professionals from across New Jersey and beyond. The center for professional studies (cps) also provides executive and continuing education courses in human resources management, education, and non-profit management. Progra

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 72.6%; rating input score 73
• Program expense ratio: 81.8%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $12 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 95%; rating input score 95; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 95.2%; rating input score 95; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 6%; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.81; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.5%; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.2% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.4% per year; rating input score 100; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 0.2% per year; rating input score 100; 8th percentile among comparable filings