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The basics:

•  Middle States Commission aporoves Kean-NJCU merger
• Deal set to close July 1; Kean will assume control of NJCU
• NJCU will become Kean Jersey City after federal review
• Combined university to serve ≈ 24,500 students

The merger between Kean University and New Jersey City University took a major step forward, receiving approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and moving the long-anticipated deal toward completion.

The transaction is set to close July 1, when Kean will assume control of NJCU and its employees transition into the university system.

Following a final review by the U.S. Department of Education expected in August, NJCU will formally become Kean Jersey City. Its students will integrate into the combined institution, which will serve roughly 24,500 enrollees.

As NJBIZ previously reported, the merger follows more than a year of planning and negotiations driven in part by NJCU’s financial challenges and a broader state effort to preserve access to public higher education in Jersey City.

In March 2025, the NJCU board voted to pursue a merger with Kean at the direction of state officials. That set off a process that included a letter of intent, a definitive agreement and the work of 15 advisory teams spanning both institutions.

State legislation has also supported the deal. Then-Gov. Phil Murphy signed Senate Bill 4881/Assembly Bill 6212 into law earlier this year, which aimed to help stabilize NJCU and advance the partnership.

As a Carnegie-classified R2 research university, Kean is expected to leverage the merger to expand academic opportunities and student support across both campuses.

‘A defining moment’

Kean President Lamont Repollet described the milestone as “a defining moment for Kean University, and for the future of higher education in our state.”

Repollet added, “With Middle States’ decision, we move forward with purpose and clarity, creating exceptional opportunities for students across New Jersey and beyond. This merger strengthens Kean’s ability to deliver an innovative, inclusive and high-quality education while expanding access for those who need it most.”

NJCU President Andrés Acebo said, “Kean Jersey City will expand opportunities, strengthen academic offerings, and carry NJCU’s near century of impact into a second century with greater reach and renewed purpose. Our rich legacy will endure and expand within a dynamic and unified institution of public higher education that advances student success, while remaining anchored in the communities that have defined our purpose and that we have been privileged and entrusted to serve.”

Provding public higher education

State-appointed monitor Henry Amoroso added that the agreement “creates a stable path forward that protects students and strengthens higher education in New Jersey.”

He also reflected on the kind of strategic action institutions need to adapt to shifting financial realities.

“The Board is deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this effort over the past year,” said Kean University Board of Trustees Chair Steve Fastook. “From the advisory teams to leadership across both institutions, this work reflects a shared commitment to students and to the future of public higher education. This merger expands Kean’s reach and impact, positioning the University to serve more students and communities across the state.”

[T]his work reflects a shared commitment to students and to the future of public higher education.
– Steve Fastook, chair, Kean University Board of Trustees

With accreditation approval secured, leaders said the institutions will continue final preparations for the transition, with a focus on academic alignment and ensuring a seamless experience for students, faculty and staff.