Grand Canyon University

gcu accreditation

Degree Programs at Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University appears in our ranking of 30 Great Colleges With An Increasing Student Population.

Grand Canyon University offers bachelor, master and doctoral degree programs as well as some certificate programs. Undergrads can earn degrees in 10 different fields and in dozens of specialized areas. Its business degree programs have full accreditation and include options such as business communications, finance and economics, health administration and sports management. The university’s psychology program has a concentration in sports psychology and prepares students for working with athletes. Some of the programs available for undergrads online include advertising and graphic design, digital film, elementary education and psychology with an emphasis in social work.

Graduate students can earn their degrees through traditional on-campus programs, online courses, and classes that meet at night. Many of these programs have approval from the VA for veterans and military students, including its Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Dual degree programs allow students to complete both an MBA and a graduate degree in either leadership or nursing. Master of Science programs are also available with focuses in addiction counseling, psychology, and clinical mental health counseling. Psychology students can choose emphasis areas in fields such as gerontology, life coaching or general psychology. Online degree programs for graduate students at Grand Canyon University include majors in information technology management, business analytics, and cybersecurity.

The university offers bridge programs that help students transition from an undergrad or graduate program to a doctoral program, including a bridge option designed for MBA students. There are also certificate programs for both undergrads and graduate students as well as those who already completed some graduate level work. One post-graduate certificate program allows students to study biblical languages, while another focuses on childhood and adolescent disorders. A marriage and family therapy certificate can go along with a psychology or a counseling degree and help students learn how to work with clients struggling in their personal lives. Certificates are also available in fields such as addiction counseling, human factors psychology and community mental health administration.

About Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University is a private university named after the Grand Canyon. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, it has an affiliation with the Christian Church and had an affiliation with the Southern Baptist Church for many years. Established in 1949 by the Southern Baptist Church, its founders wanted to create a new school that would keep students from moving to other states for college. Students could earn both undergrad and graduate degrees from the university from the very beginning. Significant Education LLC acquired the university in 2004 and kept its religious affiliation. Though it operated as a for-profit university for several years, it later became a nonprofit university again.

Also known as Grand Canyon and GCU, the university now offers options for nontraditional students. It has some programs that include evening classes students can attend after finishing work and online programs for those who live far away from its campus. Online students can earn bachelor, master and doctoral degrees and complete certificate programs. Some of these certificate programs are open to students who already have a degree. U.S. News and World Report considers GCU a Tier 2 university and noted that it was selective in its admissions process because it accepts fewer than 60% of the undergrads who apply. GCU is also a large university with an enrollment of more than 20,000 traditional students and 70,000 online students.

Grand Canyon University Accreditation Details

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) granted regional accreditation to Grand Canyon University and continues to renew that accreditation. GCU students can transfer any credits to or from the university because of this type of accreditation. Its business, teacher education, and nursing programs all have accreditation too.

Grand Canyon University Application Requirements

Students can begin classes at GCU while they’re still in high school or after they graduate. High school graduates must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and score either 1000 on the SAT or 19 on the ACT. Those who have a GED must have a score of 680 on the most recent GED exam or an equivalent score on an older exam. All undergrads will use the GCU application and complete each section before sending in their test scores and high school transcripts. The university does not require transcripts from students who have a GED.

Graduate students should take a graduate entrance exam before applying to the university. GCU requires a score of at least 500 on the GMAT or a combined GRE score of 300. As each program has its own requirements, it’s important that students check with those programs and departments to see what admissions requirements they must meet. They may need to submit resumes, professional references, writing samples, and other information. Most graduate and post-graduate certificate programs have the same application requirements. Students applying to a doctoral program should have a GPA of 3.4 or higher. Some programs will accept students with a lower GPA, but the university will not admit any doctoral student with a GPA of below 3.0.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The amount that GCU students pay will depend on how they take classes. Undergrads taking classes on campus pay $687.50 per credit hour as a part-time student and $8,250 per semester as a full-time student. Full-time undergrads can take a minimum of 12 credit hours up to 18 credit hours for this same amount. They also pay at least $7,800 a semester for room and board. Online students pay between $395 and $470 per credit hour as undergrads and $365 to $695 per credit hour for graduate classes. These same rates apply to those taking evening courses too. Discounts are available for students on active duty status in any branch of the military. GCU also offers a discount for high school students who want to take college classes.

Most students who complete the FAFSA will receive at least one type of financial aid such as a federal loan. They can also qualify for grants that come from either the federal or state government and for jobs available from the university itself. GCU has a few scholarships too. Those scholarships can cut the costs that students face each year in half. Grand Canyon University offers financial aid packages for students enrolling in any of its degree programs.