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Grand Canyon University

GCU

Phoenix, Arizona 85017

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Campus Vibe

Large UniversityUrbanPrivateBusiness Focus

Known for health sciences — major research university

Grand Canyon University is a private institution in Phoenix with particular strength in health sciences and business. With an average SAT of 1095, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A large campus of 68.6K undergraduates with a 21:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

43% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $42,186 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $21,931.

Established
1949
Motto
Find Your Purpose
Mascot
Thunder the Antelope
Type
Private for-profit university
Conference
Mountain West Conference
Division
Division II

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

60%Acceptance
1095SAT Avg
68,619Students
21:1Student:Faculty
43%Grad Rate
$42,186Earnings 10yr
$21,931Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Grand Canyon University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate60.4%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1095

Reading & Writing
540620
Math
518555

ACT Score Range

Composite
1924

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

60.4%

Trend

SAT Avg

1095

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$17,450
Room & Board$11,162
Books & Supplies$750
Total Cost of Attendance$31,493
Average Net Price$21,931
Median Debt at Graduation$22,114
Monthly Payment (10yr)$234

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$18,474
$30–48K$19,082
$48–75K$22,037
$75–110K$23,907
$110K+$24,177

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

46.5%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

522

Peer Average

240

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

134

Burglary

27

Aggravated Assault

18

Robbery

45

Motor Vehicle Theft

55

Sex Offenses

3

Arson

137

Drug Arrests

103

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (124)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

68%

Negative
  • 68% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
68,619
Gender Split
70% / 30%
Women / Men
First Generation
47%
Pell Grant Recipients
43%

Race & Ethnicity

White 48%
Black 16%
Hispanic 24%
Asian 3%
Two+ 5%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate43.0%
Freshman Retention68.4%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$47,280
10 Years$42,186

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#392
1
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#193
1
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Soccer playingSwimmingBasketballTennisSoccer affiliateSoccer championshipTrack fieldBasketball championshipTennis championshipBasketball attendance

History & Fun Facts

  • History Founding Grand Canyon College was founded as a nonprofit institution in 1949 in Prescott, Arizona, by the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention.
  • The institution was founded so local Baptists could obtain college degrees without going east to a Baptist college in Texas or Oklahoma.
  • On October 8, 1951, Grand Canyon College relocated to its current location in Phoenix.
  • In 1984, the college's trustees voted to transition the college to a university for the school's 40th anniversary in 1989, becoming Grand Canyon University.
  • Significant Education became a corporation in 2005, publicly traded under the name Grand Canyon Education, Inc.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

PHX Phoenix9 mi
LAS Las Vegas247 mi
SAN San Diego298 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2296 mi · ~66h 20m drive
New York, NY2141 mi · ~61h 51m drive
Hartford, CT2212 mi · ~63h 54m drive
Providence, RI2277 mi · ~65h 47m drive
Albany, NY2160 mi · ~62h 24m drive
Syracuse, NY2042 mi · ~58h 59m drive
Rochester, NY1970 mi · ~56h 55m drive
Buffalo, NY1903 mi · ~54h 59m drive
Philadelphia, PA2079 mi · ~60h 4m drive
Pittsburgh, PA1826 mi · ~52h 45m drive
Harrisburg, PA1989 mi · ~57h 28m drive
Newark, NJ2132 mi · ~61h 35m drive
Washington, DC1979 mi · ~57h 10m drive
Baltimore, MD2002 mi · ~57h 50m drive
Atlanta, GA1591 mi · ~45h 58m drive
Charlotte, NC1781 mi · ~51h 27m drive
Raleigh, NC1901 mi · ~54h 55m drive
Miami, FL1983 mi · ~57h 17m drive
Orlando, FL1846 mi · ~53h 20m drive
Tampa, FL1797 mi · ~51h 55m drive
Nashville, TN1445 mi · ~41h 45m drive
New Orleans, LA1317 mi · ~38h 3m drive
Richmond, VA1959 mi · ~56h 36m drive
Chicago, IL1452 mi · ~41h 57m drive
Detroit, MI1688 mi · ~48h 46m drive
Minneapolis, MN1278 mi · ~36h 55m drive
St. Louis, MO1271 mi · ~36h 43m drive
Kansas City, MO1049 mi · ~30h 18m drive
Indianapolis, IN1497 mi · ~43h 15m drive
Columbus, OH1665 mi · ~48h 6m drive
Cleveland, OH1747 mi · ~50h 28m drive
Milwaukee, WI1462 mi · ~42h 14m drive
Dallas, TX888 mi · ~25h 39m drive
Houston, TX1018 mi · ~29h 25m drive
Austin, TX872 mi · ~25h 11m drive
San Antonio, TX851 mi · ~24h 35m drive
Los Angeles, CA353 mi · ~10h 12m drive
San Francisco, CA648 mi · ~18h 43m drive
San Diego, CA296 mi · ~8h 33m drive
Seattle, WA1109 mi · ~32h 2m drive
Portland, OR1000 mi · ~28h 53m drive
Denver, CO584 mi · ~16h 52m drive
Phoenix, AZ6 mi · ~10 min drive
Salt Lake City, UT501 mi · ~14h 28m drive
Honolulu, HI2904 mi · ~83h 54m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Phoenix (PHX)9 miles
Rental car
14 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
18 min$11-18
Las Vegas (LAS)247 miles
Rental car
371 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
494 min$296-494

Deadline Calendar

Grand Canyon University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Grand Canyon University — v2 Preview — TourStack