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Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University says yes to 78.9% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $42,186 median earnings.
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Grand Canyon University sits in Phoenix proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $103,884 four years out. 45.9% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 73,371 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 72% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1058 and 1175 — below the AZ middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Grand Canyon University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Grand Canyon University received 47,978 applications and admitted 28,960 (60.4%), with 8,420 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1058–1175 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Grand Canyon University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 540 | 570 | 620 |
| SAT Math | 518 | 535 | 555 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 21 | 24 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Grand Canyon University compares
| Grand Canyon University | Arizona median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 78.9% | 89.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $17,850 | $15,667 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $42,186 | $42,359 | $53,781 |
At $42,186, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($42,359). Look at Grand Canyon University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $17,850 regardless of where you're from. At Grand Canyon University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
Grand Canyon University is a big school: 73,371 undergraduates at last count.
43.5% graduate within six years. Roughly 57% don't — ask a Grand Canyon University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Grand Canyon University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $103,884 |
| Computer Science | $88,308 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $86,834 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $85,864 |
| Homeland Security | $84,553 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $81,661 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $79,175 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $72,124 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $67,067 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $65,828 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $60,328 |
| Marketing | $60,303 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $59,281 |
| Security Science and Technology | $57,384 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $56,597 |
| Political Science and Government | $56,495 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,600 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $54,622 |
| Biology, General | $54,433 |
| History | $54,209 |
| Social Work | $53,716 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $52,783 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $51,490 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $51,082 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $50,892 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $49,703 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $49,531 |
| Human Services, General | $48,766 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $47,821 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $46,973 |
| Religious Education | $45,165 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $44,335 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $43,469 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $42,219 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $37,142 |
| Literature | $36,986 |
Median earnings for these 36 Grand Canyon University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $42,186 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 27 additional Grand Canyon University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Grand Canyon University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1058–1175 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 78.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Grand Canyon University's acceptance rate?
60.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 28,960 admitted from 47,978 applicants.
How much does Grand Canyon University cost?
At Grand Canyon University, published tuition is $17,850 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Grand Canyon University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Grand Canyon University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $42,186 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Arizona
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott — 76.6% admitted
- Arizona Christian University — 70.6% admitted
- Ottawa University-Surprise — 78.1% admitted
- University of Arizona — 86.1% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.