Grand Canyon University (GCU) vs Harvard
Grand Canyon University (GCU) and Harvard University stand as two distinct academic institutions, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. GCU, a private Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona, boasts an acceptance rate of 88%, making it more accessible to a wider range of students. In contrast, Harvard, an Ivy League institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of just 5%. While both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, GCU is known for its popular majors in business, education, and nursing, while Harvard excels in fields such as social sciences, humanities, and engineering. GCU's student body is predominantly composed of undergraduate students, with a significant portion being first-generation college students, while Harvard's student body is more evenly distributed between undergraduate and graduate programs. With a graduation rate of 63%, GCU provides ample support to help students complete their degrees, while Harvard boasts a remarkable
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![]() Grand Canyon University |
![]() Harvard University |
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Overview |
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Location | Phoenix, Arizona | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (For Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 71.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 82.8% | 4.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$105
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SAT range | N/A | 1480 - 1580 |
ACT range | N/A | 33 - 36 |
Students submitting SAT score | 54.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 36,861 | 57,786 |
Total number of admissions given out | 30,534 | 2,318 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 7,620 | 1,951 |
Yield rate | 25.0% | 84.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $32,100 | $78,028 |
Average net price | $21,644 | $13,910 |
Tuition | $16,500 | $51,143 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,300
Meal plan:
$3,800
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Room/dormitory:
$11,705
Meal plan:
$7,236
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $10,225 |
56.0%
Average amount $59,840 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
60.0%
Average amount $5,346 |
3.0%
Average amount $5,180 |
Students taking out private loans |
8.0%
Average amount $12,937 |
2.0%
Average amount $8,080 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
65,870
Men 29.3% Women 70.7% |
9,579
Men 49.0% Women 51.0% |
Graduate students |
37,202
Men 22.5% Women 77.5% |
21,766
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 73.1% | N/A |
International students | 1.2% | 23.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 15,937 | 12,874 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Arizona California Washington Colorado Minnesota | New York California Texas Illinois New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 20:1 | 7:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 44.7% | 96.7% |
Dropout rate | 52.9% | 2.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Homeland Security (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
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Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Master's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
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