Grand Canyon University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit university in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling about 73,371 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 78.91% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $42,186 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $17,850
- 2024 Average Net Price: $22,472 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 78.91% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 73,371 34.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 43.46%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
- First-Generation Students: 47.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition decrease of 2.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 0.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 10.1%
- Average SAT Score: 1077
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 122,866
- Applicants (IPEDS): 47,978
- Room & Board: $11,700 annual estimate
Grand Canyon University: what the data shows
Common questions about Grand Canyon University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Grand Canyon University?
Grand Canyon University is located in Phoenix, AZ (ZIP 85017).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Grand Canyon University public or private?
Grand Canyon University is a Private For-profit institution.
How much does Grand Canyon University cost?
Published tuition: $17,850.
Average net price after aid: $22,472.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $18,557 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,763 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $21,712 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $24,471 |
| $110,001+ | $25,701 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $71,400.
How hard is it to get into Grand Canyon University?
Admission rate: 78.91%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1077.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Grand Canyon University?
Total enrollment: 73,371 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 122,866 students.
Graduate enrollment: 37,321 students.
About 34% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Grand Canyon University?
150%-time completion rate: 43.46%.
First-year retention: 72.0%.
What do graduates of Grand Canyon University earn?
Median earnings: $47,280 six years after entry; $42,186 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $22,114.
45.94% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Grand Canyon University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (4,096 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (2,889 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (1,398 completions)
- Special Education and Teaching, General (1,219 completions)
- Public Administration and Social Service (1,216 completions)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General (936 completions)
- Psychology, Other (834 completions)
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching (767 completions)
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (725 completions)
- Secondary Education and Teaching (629 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Grand Canyon University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 78.91%; completion rate 43.46%; median earnings $42,186 at 10 years; net price $22,472. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$17,850
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Grand Canyon University was $17,850.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$22,472
2024 Value
In 2024 Grand Canyon University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $22,472.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$89,888 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$22,472 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$71,400 4-Year Tuition
$11,700 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,000 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$30,550 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$122,200 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Grand Canyon University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
45.94% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
53.01% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Grand Canyon University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Grand Canyon University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $17,000 | $17,000 | $28,309 |
| 2014 | $17,050 | $17,050 | $28,039 |
| 2015 | $17,050 | $17,050 | $19,797 |
| 2016 | $17,050 | $17,050 | $20,923 |
| 2017 | $17,050 | $17,050 | $20,570 |
| 2018 | $17,050 | $17,050 | $21,197 |
| 2019 | $17,800 | $17,800 | $21,020 |
| 2020 | $17,800 | $17,800 | $20,585 |
| 2021 | $17,800 | $17,800 | $21,176 |
| 2022 | $17,800 | $17,800 | $21,798 |
| 2023 | $17,450 | $17,450 | $21,931 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
78.91% Acceptance Rate
47,978 Total Applicants
28,960 Students Admitted
8,420 First-Time Students Enrolled
29.07% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1077
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Grand Canyon University reported total enrollment of about 73,371 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 29% male and 71% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (45.8%), Hispanic or Latino (24.6%), and Black or African American (17.2%). About 45.94% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 47.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
34.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Grand Canyon University in 2024 is 73,371 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 122,866 students. Graduate enrollment is about 37,321 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
72.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 45.8%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
36.71% 100% Completion Time
43.46% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 36.71% of students graduating from Grand Canyon University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 14% male / 86% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 47% male / 53% female
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 8% male / 92% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Grand Canyon University.
Return on Investment
$22,114 Median Student Debt
$42,186 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
52.42% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
369.32% Return on Investment
5.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Grand Canyon University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 109 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 4,096 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 2,889 completions
3. Elementary Education and Teaching: 1,398 completions
4. Special Education and Teaching, General: 1,219 completions
5. Public Administration and Social Service: 1,216 completions
6. Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 936 completions
7. Psychology, Other: 834 completions
8. Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 767 completions
9. Mental Health Counseling/Counselor: 725 completions
Most popular programs at Grand Canyon University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Grand Canyon University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Grand Canyon University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 10.1%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,563
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $2,400
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, AZ, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Business Administration and Management, General, Elementary Education and Teaching. Enrollment is approximately 73,371 students. Student body composition includes White (45.8%), Hispanic or Latino (24.6%), Black or African American (17.2%). The admission rate is 78.91%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1077. The 150%-time completion rate is 43.46%. Approximately 45.94% of students receive Pell Grants. About 47.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private For-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
Location
Phoenix, AZ 85017
Region: Southwest
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 109 distinct degree programs, Grand Canyon University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Grand Canyon University located?
Grand Canyon University is located in Phoenix, AZ.
What is Grand Canyon University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Grand Canyon University is 78.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 47,978 applicants and 28,960 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Grand Canyon University cost?
Reported tuition is $17,850 and average net price is $22,472 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,700 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Grand Canyon University?
Grand Canyon University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 122,866 students, White (45.8%), Hispanic or Latino (24.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Grand Canyon University?
About 47.4% of students at Grand Canyon University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Grand Canyon University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Grand Canyon University reports midpoint SAT about 1077.
What do graduates of Grand Canyon University earn?
Median earnings are $47,280 six years after entry and $42,186 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Grand Canyon University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 43.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Grand Canyon University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,114.
Is Grand Canyon University public or private?
Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, AZ.
Is Grand Canyon University an HBCU?
No. Grand Canyon University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Grand Canyon University a tribal college?
No. Grand Canyon University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Arizona college costs
- Arizona colleges by ROI
- Phoenix, Arizona city profile
- Southwest regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Arizona
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.