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Georgian Court University

EIN 21-0634981 · Lakewood, NJ

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GEORGIAN COURT UNIVERSITY (GCU), PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION AND IS OPEN TO STUDENTS OF ALL FAITHS, DELIVERS A CURRICULUM THAT PROMOTES SCHOLARSHIP, SERVICE, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$72.4 million
Spending
$68.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
738
Volunteers
57
Highest pay
$690,568, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $43.6 million spent. 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. PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT LATINX STUDENTS AT GEORGIAN COURT UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN REVITALIZED AND EXPANDED THROUGH VAMOS, A PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON SCHOLARSHIPS, DEDICATED SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING TO ASSIST LATINX STUDENTS IN NAVIGATING AND EXCELLING IN COLLEGE. THROUGH THE VAMOS PROGRAM, STUDENTS GAIN ACCESS TO 12 EXCLUSIVE WORKSHOPS DEVELOPED THROUGH AVANZANDO, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED INITIATIVE CREATED BY UNIDOSUS. THESE WORKSHOPS EQUIP LATINX AND FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH THE TOOLS AND STRATEGIES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND. GRANTS & GIVING IN 2024-25, GEORGIAN COURT SECURED OVER $4 MILLION IN COMPETITIVE GOVERNMENT GRANTS, CONTINUING ITS TREND OF ANNUAL MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR AWARDS. THESE FUNDS, ALONG WITH SIGNIFICANT DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS, SUPPORTED NURSING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS, GLOBAL EDUCATION, AND STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS, ENSURING AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESS. COMMITMENT TO CORE VALUES THROUGH SERVICE SERVICE IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN THE GEORGIAN COURT EXPERIENCE, WITH HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES EACH YEAR. ONE LONGTIME CAMPUS TRADITION IS THE ANNUAL THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKET DRIVE, WHERE STUDENTS FILL REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS WITH HOLIDAY ESSENTIALS, WRITE PERSONALIZED HOLIDAY CARDS, AND DELIVER THE COMPLETED FOOD BASKETS TO LOCAL FAMILIES IN NEED. TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY ON CAMPUS, THE OFFICE OF MISSION & MINISTRY MANAGES JULIAN'S CUPBOARD STUDENT FOOD PANTRY. LOCATED IN MERCY HALL, THE PANTRY IS OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS DURING OFFICE HOURS OR VIA AN ONLINE REQUEST SYSTEM. STUDENT NEED AT GCU IN 2024-25, 99.4% OF FULL-TIME FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS RECEIVED SOME KIND OF FINANCIAL AID.
  2. $9.0 million spent. STUDENT SERVICE SUPPORT - OTHER EXPENDITURES TO SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF OFFICES DEDICATED TO STUDENT SERVICE ACTIVITIES.
  3. $3.0 million spent. AS A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL ATHLETIC COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE (CACC), GEORGIAN COURT HAD OVER 345 STUDENT-ATHLETES PARTICIPATING IN NCAA DIVISION II SPORTS AS OF FALL 2024. SPORTS PROGRAMS INCLUDED ACROBATICS AND TUMBLING, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, CROSS COUNTRY, LACROSSE, SOCCER, SOFTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, AND INDOOR AND OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD.
  4. $43,376 spent. THE UNIVERSITY CONDUCTED ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PRE-COLLEGE INITIATIVES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SUCH AS A SUMMER MINI MEDICAL SCHOOL AND AN ON-CAMPUS ESPORTS EVENT, AS WELL AS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENTS HELD ON CAMPUS, SUPPORTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CAREER EXPLORATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.