Grand Canyon University

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School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Last Updated: March 20, 2023

Phoenix, AZ

$16,401

Avg tuition

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About Grand Canyon University

School Type: Private

Status: For Profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

Grand Canyon University is a large private university located on an urban campus in Phoenix, Arizona. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 65,870, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 83%. The university offers 70 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 45%, and a student-faculty ratio of 20:1. Tuition and fees for students are $16,401.

A note from Alumni Abeer Ayesh::

“I can honestly say Grand Canyon University is the best place to earn your graduate degree. GCU is different than any other university. The online education is excellent. The professors and the professional staff always do their best to encourage the students to be successful.”

Abeer Ayesh, Alumni

130,000+ GCU Online Graduates

1968 GCU earned their accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission

11 Average Online Class Size

260+ Online Degree Programs Offered

85,500+ Online Students

Most online classes start every week Online Class Start Dates

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

83% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

71% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

Graduation Rate Insight

45% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Recommended

High school transcript Required

High school rank Not required or recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Not required or recommended

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile Currently Unavailable

SAT 25th-75th Percentile Currently Unavailable

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

103k

Students enrolled

91%

Online student enrollment

20:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

47%

Hispanic

20%

Black

19%

Unknown

4%

Two or more races

4%

Asian

3%

Non-U.S. Citizen

1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

1%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

1%

Female student population

73%

Socio-economic diversity

34% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Explore Similar Schools

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

119

Total Online Enrollment

93,347

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

23% On-campus

77% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 61% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 91% online

Master's Check Bold 94% online

Doctorate Check Bold 86% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $16,401 $16,401
Graduate $10,621 $10,621

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $800
On-campus room and board $7,800
On-campus other expenses $5,700
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $7,800
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $5,700
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $5,700

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $30,701 $30,701
Off-campus without family $30,701 $30,701
Off-campus with family $22,901 $22,901

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

87%

State Grant Aid

Information not available

Institution Grant Aid

97%

Pell Grant

34%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $2,615
State Grant Aid $808
Institution Grant Aid $8,127
Pell Grant Aid $4,798

Financial Outlook

$22k

Average student debt after graduation

$36k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I without football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Beach Volleyball
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

1

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

2

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

3

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

4

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Education

BA

MA

DOC

6

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

7

Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians

BA

MA

DOC

8

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

9

Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

10

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

11

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

12

Health Professions And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

13

History

BA

MA

DOC

14

History

BA

MA

DOC

15

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

16

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

17

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies

BA

MA

DOC

18

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology

BA

MA

DOC

19

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

20

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

21

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

22

Security And Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

23

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

24

Theology And Religious Vocations

BA

MA

DOC

25

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.