Grand Canyon University
#1 Best Colleges in Arizona- Graduation Rate
- 43% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,186 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $22,472 D+
- 31% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 79% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 8.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $8.5 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges in Arizona.
Every $1 spent returns $8.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $673,889.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 43% — 24% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $8.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 73,371
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Grand Canyon University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 79% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1006–1113. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $22,472 a year after grants and scholarships — 31% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,186 ten years after enrolling — 3% above the typical college, against $22,114 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 85% nationally for mobility.
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 73,371, Grand Canyon University is one of the largest private for-profit institutions in the country. This scale means a diverse range of peers and network opportunities for students. The acceptance rate stands at 79%, making it accessible for many prospective students.
The economic mobility data for Grand Canyon University isn't available, but the earnings for graduates ten years after enrollment average $42,186. This figure can guide students in assessing potential return on investment. The graduation rate of 43% suggests that while many students enroll, completing a degree remains a challenge for a significant number.
Students considering Grand Canyon University should weigh the cost of attendance, which is about $22,472, against the median debt of $22,114. Those who thrive here are often drawn to programs in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Criminal Justice, and Computer Science & IT. The university serves a diverse student body, with 46% receiving Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to serving lower-income students.
Rankings
- #1 Best Colleges in Arizona
- #2 Best Online Colleges in Arizona
- #3 Largest Colleges in America
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Engineering
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Health Professions
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Civil Engineering
Can I Get In?
How selective Grand Canyon University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Grand Canyon University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Grand Canyon University, located in Phoenix, Arizona, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,077. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- SAT Average
- 1077
- SAT Range
- 1006–1113
- ACT Range
- 20–22
- Full-Time Faculty
- 10%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,563
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 20:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 47%
- Applicants
- 29,304
- Admitted
- 22,818
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Grand Canyon University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Grand Canyon University is $17,850, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,472. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,557 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,114 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $17,850
- Out-of-State
- $17,850
- Avg Net Price
- $22,472
- Median Debt
- $22,114
- Pell Grant Rate
- 46%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 53%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,557
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,763
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $21,712
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,701
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Grand Canyon University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Grand Canyon University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Grand Canyon University report median earnings of $42,186, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,280
- 8 Years
- $44,013
- 10 Years
- $42,186
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.52x
- Earning > $25K
- 60%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (791)
- 39%
- 100% (791)
- 39%
- 100% (791)
- 39%
- 100% (791)
- 39%
How Grand Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Grand Canyon University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Grand Canyon University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,472/year ($89,888 total). Graduates earn $42,186 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $763,777 in total earnings — a net gain of $673,889 (8.5× your investment). The median debt is $22,114, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 43% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $89,888
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $763,777
- Net Return
- $673,889
- ROI Multiple
- 8.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $22,472
- Median Debt
- $22,114
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 43%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Grand Canyon University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Grand Canyon University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.86%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.86%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 14.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $122,278
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Top Programs
The fields Grand Canyon University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 33% $92,056 early-career
- Business & Marketing 22% $62,210 early-career
- Education 11% $41,658 early-career
- Criminal Justice 3% $71,389 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $104,134 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 2% $32,905 early-career
- Communications 2% $39,374 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 2% $38,360 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Grand Canyon University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Grand Canyon University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Grand Canyon University, located in Phoenix, Arizona, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,077. The graduation rate is roughly 43%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Grand Canyon University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Grand Canyon University is $17,850, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,472. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,557 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,114 in federal student loans.
Is Grand Canyon University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Grand Canyon University report median earnings of $42,186, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Grand Canyon University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Grand Canyon University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.86%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Grand Canyon University.
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- Hannibal-LaGrange UniversityHannibal, MO · Close peer47% grad $42,643 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Faulkner UniversityMontgomery, AL · Strong match38% grad $43,457 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of MobileMobile, AL · Strong match56% grad $43,611 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar net price
- Albizu University-MiamiMiami, FL · Strong match48% grad $41,544 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
