Grand Canyon University

Private Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona, U. S.

The institution was established in 1949 by the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention as Grand Canyon College. In 1999–2000, the university ended its affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention. The university competes as the Grand Canyon Antelopes in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

Grand Canyon College was founded as a nonprofit institution in 1949 in Prescott, Arizona. Southern Baptists felt the need to establish a faith based institution that would allow local Baptists the opportunity to obtain a bachelor's or master's degree without going east to one of the Baptist colleges in Texas or Oklahoma. On October 8, 1951, Grand Canyon College relocated to its current location in Phoenix.

Suffering financial and other difficulties in the early part of the 21st century, the school's trustees authorized its sale in January 2004 to California based Significant Education, LLC, Significant Education was a subsidiary of education entrepreneur Michael K. Clifford's company. Clifford became managing director of the privatized institution, with the former board of trustees serving in an advisory role. GCE trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "LOPE". After the infusion of capital, Grand Canyon University's size increased. After having fewer than 1,000 students enrolled in 2008, the university had 17,500 students in the spring of 2017. A 2015 economic impact study revealed that the university was adding about $1 billion into the state's economy each year during its expansion. In February 2017, then Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said that the neighborhoods surrounding the university have experienced a 30% increase in housing values while concurrently seeing a 30% decrease in crime rates. By 2014 the accumulated student loan debt of Grand Canyon students was estimated to be more than $5.9 billion. Due to GCU's for profit status (and various other reasons), Arizona State University had refused to play against GCU in any sport, even though both are NCAA Division I schools and located only 16 mile (26 km) apart. ASU eventually reversed its decision, and sporting events between the two universities recommenced in the fall of 2020.

In fall 2014, the college announced the exploration of a return to non profit status. In 2018, the university submitted another application to HLC to change to non profit status. This second application was accepted on July 1, 2018. Although some organizations have approved this transition, the U. S. Department of Education still classifies the university as a for profit university. The government specifically stated that GCU is a captive client to Grand Canyon Education and the college is operating for the benefit of shareholders of a for profit company. Grand Canyon Education has also been accused of engaging in securities law fraud with its relation to GCU. Grand Canyon University was alleged to switch from for profit status to non profit status due to its yearly $9.2 million property tax bill. Numerous school officials said this was unsustainable and was one of the key reasons a required switch from for profit to non profit status was made, to reduce that burden. In 2021, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by GCU that claimed the university didn't receive all the coronavirus relief funds to which it was entitled because it was a non profit entity. That same year, GCU filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Education after being denied non profit status twice. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2022 after a federal judge rejected the university's claims. In October 2023, a Grand Canyon University press release alleged that there was a concerted effort by the U. S. Department of Education, Federal Trade Commission, and Department of Veterans Affairs to punish the school for attempting to gain non profit status.

In 2008, the university was sued by the United States federal government for paying enrollment counselors according to how many students they had enrolled while at the same time accepting federal financial aid, a violation of the Department of Education's incentive compensation ban. GCU eventually reached a settlement in the case, and was forced to pay a $5.2 million fine to a former employee and the federal government. In 2023 the Department of Education fined the company $37.7M for deceiving students about the cost of doctoral degrees. The department alleged that 78% of students graduating in those programs paid about 25% over the cost that GCU represented, with much of the extra charges accumulating from additional "continuation classes" for completing the dissertation requirement. Only 2% paid the represented cost. The school disputed the allegation, claiming in addition that it provides more information than is legally required. GCU is the largest recipient of Federal student aid. In addition to the fine, the department imposed conditions on the school to continue participating in the federal student aid programs. Also in 2023, the Federal Trade Commission filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Grand Canyon University deceived prospective doctoral students about the cost of its program and its for profit status. The suit asserted that the university paid 60% of its revenues to the for profit Grand Canyon Education company, being the most significant source of revenue for the for profit company. The university and company shared the same CEO.

In 2006, the college spent US$150 million to renovate the campus, adding a brick promenade, an aquatics center and a café. In 2009, Grand Canyon University's campus began work on a US$60 million campus expansion project which includes a 500 bed dormitory, a fitness and recreation center, 125 classroom facility, food court and bowling alley, and a 5,000 seat arena. The GCU Arena, which opened on September 2, 2011, is used for concerts, speakers, and other events. The arena is also home to the college's men's and women's basketball teams and women's volleyball games. The arena was expanded to 7,000 seats with construction beginning in spring 2014 and concluding in August of the same year. Grand Canyon University offers several fast food restaurants, coffee shops, student union, cafeteria, video game room, and six lane bowling alley for student recreation. In August 2016, the university announced the establishment of the GCU Police Department

In August 2016, GCU announced its 10 in 2 initiative, the building of 10 on campus athletic facilities in a two year span. Highlights of the project included new facilities for the university's soccer, baseball, softball, tennis and beach volleyball programs. It also included a sports medicine expansion, an equipment room expansion, practice facilities for the basketball and golf programs, and a student athlete academic center.

Grand Canyon University is a member of NCAA Division I with most sports participating in the Western Athletic Conference. Grand Canyon's reclassification to Division I status in athletics started in the academic year 2013–14. and making it Division I basketball's only for profit institution. GCU immediately became eligible for post season competition. Men's Volleyball competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and Beach Volleyball competes independently.

Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). According to the HLC, Grand Canyon College entered candidacy for accreditation in 1961. By 1968 the school was regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, HLC's predecessor, and remains accredited, successfully renewing its 10 year comprehensive evaluation in 2017. GCU colleges and programs also holds additional accreditations from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Arizona State Board of Educations, and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The university teachers and administrator preparation programs are approved by the Arizona Department of Education. In 2021, the university acceptance rate was 76.9%, and, of those admitted, 23% enrolled. The freshman retention rate was 61%.