Grand Canyon University

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School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Last Updated: March 20, 2023

Phoenix, AZ

$16,424

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 63,752, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 81%. The university offers 67 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 47%, and a student-faculty ratio of 21:1. Tuition and fees for students are $16,424.

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.

81% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 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

74% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

47% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. 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

92%

Online student enrollment

21:1

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

46%

Black

20%

Hispanic

20%

Unknown

5%

Two or more races

4%

Asian

4%

Non-U.S. Citizen

1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

1%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

1%

Female student population

74%

Socio-economic diversity

33% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

101

Total Online Enrollment

95,569

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

29% On-campus

71% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 58% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 89% online

Master's Check Bold 90% online

Doctorate Check Bold 17% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $16,424 $16,424
Graduate $10,528 $10,528

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 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 $30,724 $30,724
Off-campus without family $30,724 $30,724
Off-campus with family $22,924 $22,924

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

91%

State Grant Aid

Information not available

Institution Grant Aid

98%

Pell Grant

33%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $2,705
State Grant Aid $857
Institution Grant Aid $9,023
Pell Grant Aid $4,748

Financial Outlook

$21k

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 2020-2021 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