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GCU Rises in 2022 U.S. News and World Report Rankings

Commencement procession walks past faculty

In U.S. News & World Report’s recently released 2022 rankings, Georgian Court University climbed four positions to 109th in the Best Regional Universities North category, up from 113th a year ago and 30 positions higher than in the 2019 rankings. In addition to the overall increase, GCU also:

  • has an increased percentage of first-year students in the top 25% of their high school class for the third consecutive year;
  • maintained its small class size, with a 11:1 student/faculty ratio;
  • improved its predicted vs. actual six-year graduation rate (49% predicted, 57% actual); and
  • placed 89th in the Top Performers on Social Mobility category.

“Georgian Court continues to make important progress on many fronts, which is what we see reflected in the most recent rankings from U.S. News & World Report,” said GCU President Joseph R. Marbach, Ph.D. “We continue to attract high-achieving high school and transfer students who choose Georgian Court as a place where faculty and staff take a personal interest in their success. Our small class sizes, as noted in the rankings, contribute to that.”

The ranking report, U.S. News Best Colleges, is one of the most widely used resources by students and parents during the college search. It provides an objective comparison on many criteria believed to be important for college success:  academic quality, including graduation rates; student-faculty ratio; social mobility; and more, to determine the rankings.

A Reflection of Georgian Court’s Mission

The increase in Georgian Court’s ranking is a full campus effort grounded in the Sisters of Mercy core values of respect, integrity, justice, compassion, and service. Faculty, staff, and students alike are working to strengthen the university under the guidance of the GCU Strategic Compass, the institution’s roadmap through the 2022-2023 academic year. And, at the heart, GCU is also advancing its mission to be a university where people from all walks of life can learn, succeed, and be welcomed.

“The rankings mirror—in part—our mission to serve the underserved. That includes many students who are first in their families to attend college and those from lower-income households,” said Dr. Marbach, noting that first-generation students represent 35 percent of GCU’s incoming class of 370 freshmen and transfers. About 36 percent of them also qualify for federal Pell grants, financial awards for undergraduates with a high level of unmet financial need.

“While these factors can have a negative impact on graduation rates, GCU students—regardless of socioeconomic status—consistently beat the odds,” he added. “Their success extends beyond what we see in the rankings.”

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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.