Grand Canyon University campus
Grand Canyon University logo

Grand Canyon University

Type 4 year, Private
Business Model For Profit
Campus locale City: Large
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Large
Dormitory capacity 15,937
Student to faculty ratio 20 to 1
Acceptance rate 83%
Students retention rate 71%
On-time graduation rate 45%

Located in Phoenix, Arizona, GCU is a private, for profit institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

The acceptance rate of 83% indicates that GCU is open to a wide range of applicants, providing opportunities for a diverse student body.

Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

While the on-time graduation rate at GCU is reported to be 45%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For-profit institutions often serve a diverse student population, including many non-traditional students who may face unique challenges in completing their degrees. For comparison, Arizona state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 44% whereas the national average was 48%.

The student retention rate of 71% at GCU suggests that a significant percentage of students choose to continue their studies at the institution after their first-year.


  • Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

82.8%

In-State Tuition & Fees

$17,800

Cost of attendance at Grand Canyon University in 2022 for students from Arizona.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year For Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Arizona's average $9,348
National average $17,868

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$17,800

Cost of attendance at Grand Canyon University in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year For Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Arizona's average $23,687
National average $17,869

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 100 of freshman students at Grand Canyon University received on average $10,225 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$10,225
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 2,244 34% $5,004 $11,229,373
Other Federal Grant 5,753 87% $2,615 $15,043,928
State Grant/Scholarships 28 0% $808 $22,613
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 6,439 97% $8,127 $52,327,010
Total Grant & Scholarships 6,591 100% $10,225 $67,393,551

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Grand Canyon University students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Grand Canyon University students is 44.7%. Female students graduated at a rate of 44.9%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 44.5%.

44.7%

  • asian 55.6% 50 students
  • African American 38.7% 72 students
  • white 50.0% 532 students
  • unknown 47.5% 28 students
  • hawaiian 57.7% 15 students
  • hispanic 39.3% 329 students
  • Mixed Race 38.3% 67 students

Sport Conferences

  • Baseball Western Athletic Conference
  • Basketball Western Athletic Conference
  • Track and Cross Country Western Athletic Conference

Athletic Associations

  • NCAA
    National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Service Offerings

Grand Canyon University provides the following additional services to its students
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Grand Canyon University offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Weekend/evening classes
  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification
  • ROTC - Army
  • ROTC - Air Force

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Credit for military training
  • Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)

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