Grand Canyon University is a good school whose traditional and online programs are accredited by a recognized agency.
Being a private Christian university already presents greater odds against this school. However, they are still progressing and getting bigger over the years. With that in mind, as has its quality, Grand Canyon University tuition has also increased slightly.
The institution is best suited for non-traditional students. In fact, a whopping 78% of the entire student body (96,211) takes online courses exclusively.
Since 1949, Grand Canyon University has been a premier private Arizona university dedicated to helping students find their purpose and reach their potential by pursuing, advancing, and changing their careers.
As a Christian university, GCU also encourages students to find their purpose in Christ, emphasising applying Christian values and ethics in the workplace.
In this writing, we shall thoroughly review Grand Canyon University; Tuition, Requirements, Ranking, and Online school.
Table of contents
About Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is known for being the largest Christian university in the United States and around the world in terms of student numbers – nearly 100,000 students attend.
The school is also known for offering both traditional and online degrees. The majority of their students are non-traditional.
Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 by the Southern Baptist Church. Over the years, GCU has built a solid reputation as the premier Christian institution known for producing outstanding teachers, nurses, health professionals, and art students in the Southwest.
In the early 2000s, GCU struggled to maintain its operations and the quality of its academic experience in the face of dwindling financial support.
In September 2003, the university was at a critical juncture, facing bankruptcy with only 1,500 students enrolled.
Brent Richardson acquired the university with a small group of investors and went on a mission to rescue GCU. After 18 months, the university has finally initiated a financial turnaround.
In 2008, the university went public to raise additional capital to expand its campus.
Grand Canyon University Programs
In addition to a large student body, Grand Canyon University is known for offering numerous degree programs, both traditional and online. It offers over 200 bachelors, masters, and doctoral courses. The school also has more than 150 online degrees.
Some of the most popular majors at Grand Canyon University are:
- Health Professions
- Business, management, and marketing
- Training
- Public administration and social services
- Biological and biomedical sciences
- English language and literature
- Homeland security and law enforcement
- Theology
To prepare financially for GCU, see Grand Canyon University Tuition: Cost of Living and Financial
Grand Canyon University Acceptance Rate
Grand Canyon University is also fairly easy to get to, with an acceptance rate of 77%. According to US News, the average acceptance rate at most US colleges and universities is 68%.
However, this does not mean that you are guaranteed to receive an acceptance letter from the school if you apply there.
There are minimum requirements that a student must meet to be admitted there. To check your chances of getting admitted into Grand Canyon University, you can calculate your college chances.
What is the required CGPA for Grand Canyon University?
To be admitted to the GCU, you must meet certain conditions. A famous one involves you meeting the CGPA requirements for the program.
The minimum GPA requirement for admission is 3.0. However, you could still gain admission to GCU based on your standardized test scores. If your ACT score is 19 or your SAT is 1000, you can gain admission to the university if you have established a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Grand Canyon University Ranking
Many college ranking sites rank Grand Canyon University, most of which are preferred by many college applicants. So if you’re thinking about applying to Grand Canyon University and wondering how it ranks in the college ranking world, check out the following:
US News Ranking:
- #78 in Top Social Mobility Performers
- #166 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- #299 in National Universities
- #645 in Nursing
Niche Rankings:
- #1 Best Arizona College Campus
- Ranked 18th best college campus in America
- #60 in top nursing colleges in America
- #78 in Best Colleges for Education in America
- No. 125 in the most diverse colleges in America
- #275 in top colleges for business in America
College Facts Rankings:
- No. 1 in Best Psychiatric/Mental Health category.
- #1 in Most Popular Nursing
- #3 Best Nursing School in Arizona
- #190 in top registered nursing schools
- #259 in top nursing schools
Grand Canyon University Accreditation
Grand Canyon University is an accredited school. The accreditation agency responsible for accreditation is the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Grand Canyon University’s accreditor is recognized by the US Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
The good news is that Grand Canyon University is HLC accredited. The really nice thing about HLC is that it is a regional accreditation agency. This means that Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited.
Visiting a regionally accredited facility brings with it various benefits, such as:
- Access to education that meets or exceeds certain standards.
- Easy transfer of credits from one regionally accredited university to the next.
- Increased chances of admission to a graduate school.
- Eligibility for more competitive financial assistance programs.
- A college degree that potential employers and employees respect.
Since 1968, Grand Canyon University has been continuously accredited by HLC and its predecessors. HLC confirmed Grand Canyon University’s accreditation in 2017 after conducting a comprehensive institutional review.
Is Grand Canyon University Online Accredited?
Grand Canyon University Online is also HLC accredited. The recognized regional accrediting agency accredits not only traditional US institutions but also online schools.
It accredits both the on-campus degrees and online programs offered by Grand Canyon University Online.
Many students and their parents are suspicious of schools operating on the internet and offering online degrees. That’s because some pretend to be legitimate institutions when they aren’t.
It’s a good thing that Grand Canyon University Online is an accredited online school by HLC, an accrediting agency recognized by USDE and CHEA.
Of course, the online degree you get with it will be respected by employers. It is also very likely to be accepted by a graduate school if you pursue a postgraduate degree.
Some of Grand Canyon University’s programs also have programmatic accreditations, such as:
- Business: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- Education: Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)
- Nursing: Collegiate Nursing Education Commission (CCNE)
- Science, Engineering, and Technology: Accreditation Body for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Grand Canyon University?
Grand Canyon University’s annual tuition rate is $16,500 for in-state and out-of-state students. Campus students pay an average of $8,100 for room and board and $1,700 in additional fees. Individual courses cost $687.50 per credit.
Based on this number, the cost of attending Grand Canyon University is below average, making the school accessible to more students on a budget.
To make earning a degree more affordable, 98% of freshmen receive scholarships, with each honoree receiving an average of $7,951.
To know more about GCU Tuition, check out GCU Tuition: Scholarships and Cost of Living
Are There Available Scholarships To Study At Grand Canyon University?
With the help of institutional scholarships, the average campus student only paid $8,900 in annual tuition, lowering the cost of tuition for many students by just under half. GCU has not increased campus tuition since 2009 as part of our commitment to providing affordable education.
How much is Grand Canyon University Online?
Compared to a traditional degree, a Grand Canyon University Online degree is more affordable. An academic year as a full-time online student at the school costs an average of $26,854.
An online certificate program from Grand Canyon University is even cheaper, costing approximately $14,750 per year.
In addition to on-campus programs, Grand Canyon University also offers programs that can be completed over the internet.
An online degree from school is cheaper than its traditional counterpart. Because in addition to the elimination of certain expenses such as accommodation and meals, the tuition fees for an online student per semester are also lower.
According to 2020 data, the cost of an online college ranges from $9,600 to $15,150 per academic year. This means that the estimated cost of studying online at Grand Canyon University is higher than average.
How Much Do Grand Canyon University Graduates Earn?
Six years after enrolling at Grand Canyon University, working graduates earn an average of $38,400 each year.
On the other hand, after 10 years, they earn an average of $54,300. The starting salaries and average annual earnings of graduates depend on various factors such as degree and field of study.
One of the main reasons for getting a college degree is to increase earning potential.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) states that the average annual salary for college graduates is approximately $50,000.
That’s higher than the average annual income of six Grand Canyon University graduates after attending the school as freshmen. After 10 years, however, they tend to earn slightly more than average.
Don’t assume that by the time you graduate from Grand Canyon University, you won’t make much money. That’s because the amount of money you make per year also depends on your degree and major.
For example, the school’s highest-paid graduates are those who earn bachelor’s degrees in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing — earning an average starting salary of $75,400 per year.
Bachelor’s degree holders in Homeland Security earn an average starting salary of $59,600 per year.
FAQs On Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University (GCU) is located in Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
Grand Canyon University is a private, for-profit institution.
Yes, Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Yes, Grand Canyon University offers a variety of online programs for students who prefer the flexibility of distance learning.
Conclusion
Even with affordable tuition fees, Grand Canyon University still maintains a high-quality standard of education. It remains a globally recognized university and gets many applications from Christian students around the United States and the world.
References
- https://www.unigo.com/colleges/grand-canyon-university/reviews
- https://www.gradreports.com/colleges/grand-canyon-university
- https://www.niche.com/colleges/grand-canyon-university/
- https://collegerealitycheck.com/grand-canyon-university/
Recommendations
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
1 comment
Comments are closed.