Moody’s elevates GCU credit rating

Enrollment increases, improved financial operations and partnerships at Georgian Court University convince Moody's Investor Services to upgrade the Lakewood college's rating, from "negative" to "stable," Baa3.

According to school officials, Moody's expects the university to maintain a healthy operating cash flow and reined-in debt service, along with a modest enlargement of the student body. GCU pegs its Fall 2016 full-time undergraduate and graduate enrollment at 1,916, 281 more than the same point in 2015.

GCU officials credit the school's master's degree paths for educators, especially its partnership with the K-12 Alliance (KTA), which they said has 300 enrollees in Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington, Middlesex, Essex, Union and Somerset Counties.

Other contributing factors are increases in transfer student numbers, and in full-time pursuit of degrees in nursing, business, biology and exercise science, school officials said. Moody's also cited GCU's ability to retain enrollees, and its $10,000,000 investment in facility improvements.

The report coincides with the impending completion of a comprehensive strategic plan for the school's future.

"We are very pleased that Moody's recognizes the significant energy and effort that has gone into our recruitment and resource management processes," said GCU President Dr. Joseph R. Marbach.

"Interest in obtaining a Georgian Court degree has never been higher and will continue to grow as we expand the GCU educational footprint throughout New Jersey."