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For-Profit 4-Year Minimally Selective Phoenix, AZ NCAA Division I without football

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

78.9%
Acceptance Rate
$33,674/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$22,472/yr
Avg Price After Aid
43.3%
6-yr Grad Rate
73,371
Undergrads(includes online enrollment)

About Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, Arizona, a large city. The university has an undergraduate enrollment of 73,371 students and maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 20:1.

Type
For-Profit 4-Year
Undergrads
73,371
Avg Faculty Salary
$69,024
Athletics
NCAA Division I without football
Pell Students
45.9%
First-Gen
47.4%
What Grand Canyon University Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician 568 graduates · 3.9% of degrees here vs 0.04% nationally 100×
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science and... 299 graduates · 2% of degrees here vs 0.03% nationally 62×
Community Organization and Advocacy 485 graduates · 3.3% of degrees here vs 0.08% nationally 41×
Human Services 1,209 graduates · 8.2% of degrees here vs 0.28% nationally 29×
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 3,578 graduates · 24.3% of degrees here vs 7.46% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
78.9%
Acceptance rate · Minimally Selective
47,978
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$22,472 avg net
Average net price after aid
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$47,280 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
43.3%
6-yr Grad Rate
$22,114
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

Grand Canyon University Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
78.9%
47,978 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
20:1
Undergrad instruction

Grand Canyon University has an acceptance rate of 78.9%, indicating relatively modest selectivity in admissions. Applicants have a fairly high likelihood of admission to this institution.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 2 applicants is admitted · 47,978 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Where Admitted Students Score
Middle 50% of enrolled students, on the full SAT scale · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS)
Fall 2023
1006–1113
40080012001600
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 17,162 10,888 63.4% 3,241
Women 30,799 18,063 58.6% 5,179
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Grand Canyon University admits 78.9% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 94%.

Acceptance rate
This school
78.9%
Similar colleges (62)
93.5%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Grand Canyon University Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$22,472
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$22,114
Federal Loan Rate
53%
Students borrowing federal loans

Grand Canyon University's cost of attendance is $33,674, while the average net price students pay is $22,472, meaning typical students pay considerably less than the sticker price.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$33,674
In-state Tuition & Fees
$17,850
53%
Room & Board
$11,700
35%
Books & Supplies
$1,000
3%
Other Expenses
$3,124
9%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
88%
Federal loans
53%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $234.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, Grand Canyon University costs $22,472 a year — about 23% less than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$32,702
Similar colleges (106)
$36,523
AZ (44)
$19,877
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ (27)
$20,483
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
87.9%
Similar colleges (117)
89.2%
AZ (78)
85.4%
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ (60)
85.4%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$22,114
Similar colleges (126)
$25,052
AZ (78)
$9,500
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ (60)
$9,500
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$22,472
Similar colleges (120)
$29,019
AZ (87)
$19,831
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ (62)
$21,099
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Grand Canyon University Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
43.3%
Median Earnings 6yr
$47,280
6 years after entering

Grand Canyon University has a graduation rate of 43.3% and median earnings of $47,280 six years after entry and $42,186 ten years after entry.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$50,145
Men
$46,320
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
32.9%
Pell recipients
44.5%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse3,578
Business Administration and Management,...1,631
Human Services, General1,209
Elementary Education and Teaching821
Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician568
Community Organization and Advocacy485
Marketing/Marketing Management, General433
Special Education and Teaching, General350
Hospital and Health Care Facilities...338
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science and...299
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
White
48.2%
Asian
43%
Hispanic
39.2%
Black
35.7%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering Grand Canyon University are $44,013, and 60% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former Grand Canyon University students earn $47,280 — 29% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$42,186
Similar colleges (124)
$40,092
AZ (79)
$38,673
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ (56)
$39,115
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$47,280
Similar colleges (125)
$36,582
AZ (86)
$34,062
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ (62)
$35,496
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
43.3%
Similar colleges (83)
36.9%
AZ (34)
32.6%
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ (23)
28.5%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
70.2%
Similar colleges (121)
61.5%
AZ (20)
73.7%
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ (15)
70.2%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Grand Canyon University Campus, Athletics & Faculty

Grand Canyon University, located in Phoenix, Arizona, is a private for-profit institution with an undergraduate enrollment of 73,371 students. The student body includes 70.5% women, 47.4% first-generation students, and 45.9% Pell grant recipients.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
45.8%
Asian
2.8%
Hispanic
24.6%
Black
17.2%
Other Indicators
First-generation
47.4%
Pell grant recipients
45.9%
Women
70.5%
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Total Revenue
$13.7M
Total Expense
$13.7M
Athletes
617
334 men · 283 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$291,178
Women's sports
$121,670

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$2,398,700
Women's aid
$3,388,871
Academic Resources
659
Full-time faculty
$69,024
Avg faculty salary
22,968
FT staff
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$72,354
Women (avg)
$67,190
Overall avg
$69,024
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
73,371
Graduate students
37,321
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
1.8%

461 of 24,995 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
67.1%
Undergrads taking any
86.6%
Grad students fully online
97.3%

47,616 of 70,929 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 35,645 of 36,634 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median
Pell grant share
This school
45.9%
Similar colleges (137)
52.3%
AZ (94)
44.2%
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ (67)
46.9%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Students per faculty member
This school
20:1
Similar colleges (141)
14:1
AZ (97)
18:1
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ (69)
18:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at Grand Canyon University
68 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
14,748 graduates
Health Professions 4,996 grads · 8 majors
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 3,578
Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician 568
Hospital and Health Care Facilities... 338
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science and... 299
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling 134
Public Health, General 53
Athletic Training/Trainer 16
Health Information/Medical Records... 10
Business and Marketing 3,133 grads · 11 majors
Business Administration and Management,... 1,631
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 433
Finance, General 281
Accounting 269
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies 220
Human Resources Management/Personnel... 161
Management Science 61
Hospitality Administration/Management,... 49
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain... 24
Business/Commerce, General 2
Financial Risk Management 2
Public Administration and Social Services 1,991 grads · 3 majors
Human Services, General 1,209
Community Organization and Advocacy 485
Social Work 297
Education 1,623 grads · 8 majors
Elementary Education and Teaching 821
Special Education and Teaching, General 350
Early Childhood Education and Teaching 179
Education/Teaching of Individuals in... 130
Secondary Education and Teaching 121
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 18
Music Teacher Education 3
Drama and Dance Teacher Education 1
Homeland Security and Protective Services 524 grads · 3 majors
Criminal Justice/Police Science 298
Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management 189
Forensic Science and Technology 37
Computer and Information Sciences 433 grads · 5 majors
Information Technology 256
Computer Programming/Programmer, General 62
Computer/Information Technology Services... 44
Computer Science 37
Computer and Information Sciences, General 34
Visual and Performing Arts 321 grads · 7 majors
Graphic Design 124
Cinematography and Film/Video Production 79
Digital Arts 59
Arts, Entertainment, and Media... 25
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 16
Dance, General 10
Music, General 8
Communication and Journalism 307 grads · 2 majors
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 297
Advertising 10
Theology and Religious Vocations 293 grads · 2 majors
Religious Education 282
Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies 11
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 291 grads · 2 majors
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 276
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 15
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 258 grads · 2 majors
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 130
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 128
History 167 grads · 1 major
History, General 167
Social Sciences 133 grads · 1 major
Political Science and Government, Other 133
Engineering 118 grads · 6 majors
Mechanical Engineering 71
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 21
Electrical and Electronics Engineering 14
Engineering, General 7
Environmental/Environmental Health... 3
Computer Software Engineering 2
English Language and Literature 86 grads · 1 major
Professional, Technical, Business, and... 86
Family and Consumer Sciences 25 grads · 1 major
Human Nutrition 25
Natural Resources and Conservation 22 grads · 1 major
Environmental Science 22
Engineering Technologies 17 grads · 2 majors
Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering... 14
Electrical/Electronic Engineering... 3
Physical Sciences 5 grads · 1 major
Chemistry, General 5
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 5 grads · 1 major
Spanish Language and Literature 5
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

Grand Canyon University Location & Campus Safety

Grand Canyon University is in Phoenix, AZ, in what IPEDS classifies as a large city setting. The campus sits about 4.7 miles from the center of Phoenix. There are 8 other colleges within 25 miles, and Phoenix, AZ is 4.7 miles away.

Grand Canyon University Other colleges within 30 miles
Large city
Campus Setting
4.7 mi
To City Center
8
Colleges Within 25 mi
1,624,832
Phoenix Population
Living in Phoenix
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,458
Median Rent / mo
$77,041
Median Household Income
30.4%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
66.1%
Walk
1.6%
Public transit
2%

Maricopa County scores 11.1 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 4.7% of Phoenix's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index
Colleges Near Grand Canyon University
Within 30 miles, at least 500 students, by straight-line distance
Glendale Community College 11,975 students 5.3 mi
SOURCEIPEDS campus coordinates, Grand Canyon University to each campus

Campus Safety at Grand Canyon University

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Grand Canyon University reported for 2024.

410
On-Campus Offenses
43
In Residence Halls
3.6
Per 1,000 Students
13
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
428
2023
606
2024
410
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Motor vehicle theft
365
Burglary
20
Sexual offenses
17
Arson
4
Aggravated assault
3
Robbery
1

Separately, Grand Canyon University reported 10 arrests and 767 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Grand Canyon University admissions, costs, and outcomes.