Grand Canyon University acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Grand Canyon University · Private nonprofit · Phoenix, AZ · 70,929 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
Grand Canyon University admitted 60.4% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 54.8% in 2013. Tuition and fees are $17,900 for every student in 2025-26.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 54.8% | 15,401 | 8,440 |
| 2014 | 57.6% | 23,901 | 13,759 |
| 2015 | 43.2% | 34,475 | 14,893 |
| 2016 | 56.9% | 34,096 | 19,413 |
| 2017 | 66.9% | 32,734 | 21,906 |
| 2018 | 73.2% | 31,958 | 23,392 |
| 2019 | 76.9% | 37,456 | 28,818 |
| 2020 | 80.7% | 48,918 | 39,474 |
| 2021 | 82.8% | 36,861 | 30,534 |
| 2022 | 77.9% | 29,304 | 22,818 |
| 2023 | 60.4% | 47,978 | 28,960 |
Applications went from 15,401 in fall 2013 to 47,978 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $21,512 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $23,979 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | Not reported |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $13,488 |
| Over $110,000 | Not reported |
| Tuition and fees, all students (2025-26) | $17,900 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $33,674 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $21,509 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 0% submitted the SAT, 0% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar private colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| SMU TX | 61.2% | $69,722 same for all |
| University of Dayton OH | 61.6% | $50,610 same for all |
| RPI NY | 58.4% | $66,032 same for all |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Grand Canyon University admitted 60.4% of its 47,978 applicants for fall 2023, or 28,960 students.1 The rate has been volatile. It was 54.8% in fall 2013, peaked at 82.8% in 2021 and then fell sharply, and the net change is up 5.6 percentage points.1 Across the 10 yearly changes it declined in only 3, but the latest drop was large.1 Applications grew 212% over the decade, and admitted students grew 243%.1 The entering class grew from 3,190 in 2013 to 8,420 in 2023.1
Test scores are optional. Reported middle 50% ranges were 540 to 620 on SAT reading and writing and 19 to 24 on the ACT.1
Tuition and fees are $17,900 for 2025-26 for every student, compared with a $26,624 median across 8 private colleges in Arizona.2 Average net price in 2024-25 was $21,512 for families earning $0 to $30,000, $23,979 for $30,001 to $48,000, and $13,488 for $75,001 to $110,000.2
Among 2019 entrants, 54% graduated within 6 years, above the 38% median of 17 bachelor's colleges in Arizona, while retention for fall 2023 entrants was 72%.2 Pell grants went to 52% of undergraduates, median earnings were $50,609 10 years after entry, and median debt for borrowers was $24,000.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 47,978 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 28,960 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 8,420 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 70,929 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 540 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 620 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 518 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 555 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 19 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 24 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 0% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 0% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, all students | $17,900 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $33,674 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $21,509 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $21,512 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $23,979 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $13,488 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PRIV, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 54% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 72% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 52% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $50,609 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $24,000 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median tuition and fees, private nonprofit colleges, Arizona (N = 8) | $26,624 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, private nonprofit bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Arizona (N = 17) | 38% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with Grand Canyon University, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page