Ocean County College, Georgian Court Offering Dual Enrollment Degree Programs

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Students attending Ocean County College will have an easier path to go from an associate's degree to a bachelor's degree thanks to a dual enrollment agreement between OCC and Georgian Court University.

The agreement has taken effect during the fall 2024 semester and offers OCC students the opportunity to apply for early admission, receive additional course counseling from Georgian Court and get support to ensure seamless entry into specific bachelor’s degree programs.

"This new agreement advances to the next level a decades-long relationship between our institutions to foster even greater success for OCC students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree at Georgian Court," Georgian Court President Joseph R. Marbach said. "We are pleased to work with OCC to better prepare students to meet the requirements for their intended major, and, in turn, increase the likelihood for students to complete the bachelor’s degree program in two years."

"Ocean County College is delighted to partner with Georgian Court University to create new opportunities for our students and build pathways that will help them continue their education," Ocean County College President Pamela Monaco said. "This partnership reflects our shared commitment to student success and to our community."

"Together, we can make a meaningful impact on students' lives by empowering them to move forward with confidence and to achieve their academic and career goals," Monaco said.

Students can choose from dozens of majors offered through Georgian Court's three schools: the School of Arts, Sciences & Education; the School of Business & Digital Media; and the Hackensack Meridian Health School of Nursing & Wellness at Georgian Court.

Ocean County College students are encouraged to apply for dual admission any time within their first 30 credit hours, but may apply any time prior to their last semester at OCC. Once accepted, students will have a reserved seat at Georgian Court and be able to connect early with a Georgian Court admissions counselor for guidance to select classes that align with general education and prerequisite requirements for their chosen bachelor’s degree program.

Additional admissions criteria are required for students majoring in education, nursing, or dance.

Students can transfer up to 75 credits from Ocean County College to Georgian Court, and the application fee is waived. Dual admissions students will also be advised about scholarships and financial aid to assist with affordability. On average, 99 percent of students who transfer to Georgian Court receive scholarships.

"I think the new program will be really good for OCC students and give them a head start to make sure they know what classes they need so they can go right into their major at GCU," OCC graduate Alyssa Almerigotti of Jackson, who earned an associate's degree in liberal arts and is completing her last semester at Georgian Court working toward a bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education.

"Transferring to GCU was pretty easy, but since I enrolled after I graduated from OCC there were some extra classes that were required that I didn’t have, and some extra credits that didn’t count toward GCU’s degree requirements," Almerigotti said. "If this program was available then, I would have been able to graduate from GCU earlier."

Almerigotti said both OCC and GCU were very supportive throughout the transfer process and believes this dual admissions program will make the entire process a "whole lot easier" for students to navigate successfully.

Georgian Court has consistently been named to the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll which means it is one of just 123 colleges or universities recognized nationally as "transfer friendly" because it provides a supportive, smooth transition and proven outcomes.

This academic year 189 new transfer students have enrolled at Georgian Court from community colleges, including 29 from OCC this fall. Over the past five years, 172 OCC students transferred to GCU, which is the second largest source of community college transfer students for GCU.

Under the agreement, Georgian Court will continue to participate in the annual OCC Transfer Fair, and OCC will provide special meeting space on campus for GCU academic, admissions and financial aid advisors to meet with OCC students interested in the dual admissions program.

For more information about the dual admissions program, Georgian Court has information on its website.