Understanding Grand Canyon University Tuition Costs and Financial Aid

Financing higher education is a significant consideration for students and their families. Grand Canyon University (GCU) offers various learning options and financial aid opportunities. This article breaks down the costs associated with attending GCU and explores available resources to help students manage their educational expenses.

Tuition and Fees Overview

The cost of attendance (COA) at GCU encompasses more than just tuition and fees. It includes direct educational expenses paid to the university, such as tuition and fees, and indirect expenses like housing, food, transportation, and personal costs. The COA provides an average of estimated expenses a student could incur during an academic year.

GCU offers three learning options: a traditional campus environment, evening classes, and online degree programs. Tuition rates vary depending on the program of study and modality (on-campus or online).

On-Campus Tuition

For traditional campus students, the annual tuition is $16,500 for 12-18 credits per semester ($8,250 per semester). This cost covers tuition only and excludes additional fees such as housing, meal plans, and other miscellaneous expenses. GCU has maintained this campus tuition rate since 2009.

Online and Evening Tuition

GCU's online and evening tuition rates are designed for students pursuing online degrees or taking evening classes. These rates vary depending on the program and level of study (undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral). A special rate is available for active duty and active reserve military personnel.

The typical tuition range for all undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs vary per credit hour. It's important to speak with a university counselor to learn more about scholarship opportunities through GCU's educational alliances or continuing education options for teachers.

Additional Costs

University attendance often involves costs beyond tuition fees, which include direct payments to the institution and various indirect costs. The cost of attendance page provides a detailed breakdown of educational expenses.

Students should consider all discretionary costs not directly related to attending school but incurred during the academic year, such as transportation costs, personal expenses, and credentialing fees for licensure, certification, or accreditation.

Financial Aid Opportunities

GCU provides several resources to support students' financial wellness, including a no-cost Financial Literacy Program for prospective and continuing students and their families. The Office of Financial Aid uses estimated costs to determine the maximum amount of financial aid students are eligible for each academic year.

Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA.

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Scholarships and Grants

GCU offers various scholarship opportunities to help students finance their education. These include scholarships for traditional campus students and non-traditional students. Scholarships and grants do not need to be paid back.

Types of Scholarships

Institutional Scholarships: GCU-funded scholarships are available for both traditional and online students. In 2024-25, traditional campus students qualified for approximately $7,300 in GCU-funded scholarships, reducing tuition by almost half to approximately $9,100.
Evening-Campus New Student Scholarship: GCU offers 20% off the tuition per course for new students participating in a GCU evening-campus program, offered on GCU’s main campus, and who submit a completed application to start their program on or before December 31, 2026. This scholarship is only valid for admissible new students.
National Center for Teacher Preparation’s Initial Teacher Licensure Scholarships: There are multiple scholarships available for applicants pursuing specific education programs who meet certain criteria, such as working for an accredited school or district and seeking initial teacher licensure.
Active Duty, Active Reserve, National Guard, and Military Spouses Scholarships: GCU offers scholarships to Active Duty, Active Reserve, National Guard, and Military Spouses (Online and Professional Studies) who meet specific qualifications. These scholarships decrease the overall tuition to a specific tuition amount per credit.

Loans

Student loans can help supplement scholarships and grants to cover the cost of college education. Loans must be paid back.

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) allows students to apply for government grants and loans. Awards may be based on a family’s financial situation.

Net Price and Affordability

The net price is a college’s cost of attendance minus the grants and scholarships a student receives. The net price is specific to each student because it’s based on their personal circumstances and the college’s financial aid policies.

Average Net Price

The average net price at GCU is $22,239 per year. However, this can vary significantly depending on household income.

Read also: Financial Aid at GCU

Net Price by Income Bracket

Less than $30K: $19,541
$30K-$48K: $20,184
$48K-$75K: $23,310
$75K-$110K: $25,288
Greater than $110K: $25,573

Tuition Guarantee Plans

GCU offers tuition guarantee plans where the tuition at the time of first enrollment is guaranteed only to students making advance payment.

Specific Program Costs

Tuition rates and program costs can vary significantly based on the specific degree program. Some programs also have program premiums. It is important to view the list of programs with program premiums.

Doctoral Programs

GCU offers several doctoral programs, including:

PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision
PhD in General Psychology
EdD in Teaching and Learning
EdD in Organizational Leadership
Doctor of Business Administration
Doctor of Health Administration

These programs require a minimum number of credits for completion and may involve Research Continuation courses for students who have not received final dissertation approval. The cost and time to complete these programs can vary, with tuition and fees averaging between $48,670 and $53,796, including continuation courses.

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)

The ABSN program has a flat $850 per credit charge for tuition and fees. Students typically take 16 credits per term.

Dual Enrollment Courses

High school students can earn college credits through dual enrollment courses, which cost $210 per course ($52.50 per credit) plus a $105 digital course materials fee.

Historical Tuition Trends

GCU has kept annual campus tuition unchanged since 2009, demonstrating a commitment to affordable education. More than 92% of GCU’s traditional students qualify for institutional scholarships, which totaled $181 million, which brought the average tuition cost to approximately $8,900, which is comparable to public universities and far below other private schools.

Tuition Freeze

GCU has frozen tuition on its Phoenix campus for the 18th consecutive year. The private Christian university’s ground campus tuition will remain at $16,500 before institutional aid is included.

Understanding Additional Expenses

Beyond tuition and fees, students should budget for additional expenses such as:

Books and Supplies: Estimated at $750 per year.
Personal Expenses: Estimated at $4,300 per year.
Transportation: Costs vary depending on whether the student lives on or off-campus.

On-campus housing and food expenses are estimated based on average costs incurred by students living on campus. Off-campus housing and food are estimated based on averages for off-campus living.

Key Considerations

Program of Study: Tuition rates vary depending on the program.
Modality: On-campus and online programs have different tuition structures.
Financial Aid: Explore all available scholarship and grant opportunities.
Personal Circumstances: Discuss any special circumstances with a university counselor to receive personalized guidance.

Graduation and Retention Rates

A school’s graduation rate can indicate how likely a student is to complete their degree. At Grand Canyon University, over the last five years 44% of students earned their bachelor’s degree within six years of enrolling. Over the last five years, at Grand Canyon University, about 70% of full-time students returned the following fall to continue their degree.

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