Grand Canyon University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Phoenix, Arizona. It enrolls 73,371 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
51/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes25
Value16
Affordability59
Selectivity33
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 78.9%, Grand Canyon University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
78.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1006 – 1113
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 22
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Grand Canyon University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
16.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Grand Canyon University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,472 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,472
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
46%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
53%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$17,850
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,700
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,644
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,124
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,954
Total Cost of Attendance
$32,702
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$18,557
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,763
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,712
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,471
Over $110,000
$25,701
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,25010%percentile
$4,97725%percentile
$22,114Medianpercentile
$20,31375%percentile
$34,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,500
↓ $9,614
No Pell $12,500
↓ $9,614
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $10,114
Independent students $12,670
↓ $9,444
Female students $12,720
↓ $9,394
Male students $12,000
↓ $10,114
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,533, less than completers ($22,114), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
42% of full-time students who enrolled at Grand Canyon University graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
42%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Grand Canyon University earn a median of $42,186 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,186
Earning > $25K
65%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$54,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$66,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$56,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$69,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,400, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
19.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Grand Canyon University is home to 73,371 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students, 66% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
73,371
Part-Time
66%
First-Generation
47%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 45.8%33,626
Hispanic 24.6%18,042
Black 17.2%12,642
Other 6.3%4,644
Asian 2.8%2,084
International 0.9%668
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Grand Canyon University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityPhoenix, Arizona
Housing
Partly residential18,485 beds available
Adult Learners
52%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Grand Canyon University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
106 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Grand Canyon University is 21:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,259
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
582 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
34
6%
$87,334
Associate Professors
65
11%
$76,127
Assistant Professors
90
15%
$70,146
Instructors
380
65%
$65,237
Lecturers
11
2%
$57,204
No Rank
2
0%
$38,410
Pros & Cons of Grand Canyon University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Grand Canyon University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Wide variety of programs and student life
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Above-average net price
Larger class sizes than typical
Large institutional setting can feel impersonal
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Grand Canyon University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who want a large campus with breadth and variety.
Frequently Asked Questions about Grand Canyon University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Grand Canyon University.
Is Grand Canyon University hard to get into?
Grand Canyon University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 78.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Grand Canyon University?
Grand Canyon University has an acceptance rate of 78.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Grand Canyon University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Grand Canyon University scored between 1006 and 1113 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Grand Canyon University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Grand Canyon University scored between 20 and 22 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Grand Canyon University cost?
The average net price after aid at Grand Canyon University is $22,472 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Grand Canyon University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,186 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,472 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Grand Canyon University known for?
Grand Canyon University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Grand Canyon University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Grand Canyon University are $42,186, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Grand Canyon University accredited?
Yes. Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Grand Canyon University?
Grand Canyon University enrolls 73,371 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Grand Canyon University?
Grand Canyon University graduates 42% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Grand Canyon University a public or private college?
Grand Canyon University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Grand Canyon University located?
Grand Canyon University is located in Phoenix, Arizona.
What programs does Grand Canyon University offer?
Grand Canyon University offers 106 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Grand Canyon University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Grand Canyon University is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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