GCU Acceptance Rate

Introduction

The acceptance rate is the rate at which students are consented to enter the University. It is a ratio between the number of students accepted to the university of the total number of applicants. 

Acceptance rate of GCU

The acceptance rate at Grand Canyon University (GCU) which is a renowned university ranked no 299-391 in U.S National Universities is 73%, in fall 2018 for students applying for full-time degrees for the first time. The university located in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. consists of a range of courses from certificate courses to doctoral degrees. 

The intake of students occurs in three entries; Fall, Spring, and summer. The admissions are presented on a rolling basis. There is no application submission deadline and students can submit their applications any time of the year. However, GCU encourages applicants to apply early as it will be beneficial in admission and receiving financial aid.

Admission requirements at GCU

• The applicants must be 16 years or older.
• The applicant should submit Official Transcripts from accredited institutions (Highschool or College) that were previously attended.
• Applicants should meet the expected GPA requirements for each degree level.
• Students that do meet the required GPA through their transcripts are eligible to apply as long as they have test scores or a college GPA that meets the admission requirement.

GPA Criteria At GCU

GCU has set different GPA requirements for each degree level as below.

• For high school applicants, an unweighted GPA of 3.0 is considered. An applicant with a GPA of 2.5 or higher is considered only if expected ACT or SAT exam scores are met.
• For Graduate degree applicants, an unweighted GPA of 2.8 is expected from an accredited or GCU-approved college.
• Doctoral candidates should possess an earned masters or doctoral degree at a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of 3.4.

Applicants with less than 3.0 will not be accepted although a GPA below 3.4 will be considered under specifications.

Test Scores and College GPA Requirements

If the GPA score is 2.5 or higher and below 3.0, high school applicants will be eligible only if either the test scores of college-GPA meets the standards of admission requirements as set by GCU. 

Test Scores 

According to the requirements,

An Applicant with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and an ACT score of 19 or higher is eligible for full admission.

An Applicant with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and an SAT score from one of the test dates below is eligible for full admission.

• The expected composite score for a test date after March 1, 2016, is 1000 or above.
• The expected composite score for a test date between Jan. 1, 2005-Feb. 29, 2016 is 1380 or above.
• The expected composite score for a test date before 2005 is 920 or above

College-GPA

The student is required to submit the post-secondary (college) transcript(s) with the transferable credits corresponding to the unweighted GPA as mentioned below.

• An unweighted GPA of 2.75 or above requires 6-24 transferable credits.
• An unweighted GPA of 2.25 or above requires 25-90 transferable credits.
• An unweighted GPA of 2.00 or above requires the applicant to have earned a bachelor’s degree.

Applicants who do not meet GPA, time scores nor college-GCU acceptance rate might be eligible for admission under specification. However, this might not be interpreted as a full acceptance.

Registration For Campus/Online/Evening Students

1. Visit Request More Information | GCU | GCU to start your online registration form

The application does not require any fee as the university receives many enrollments.

2.  Submit official transcripts via mail, vax, or hand delivery
3. Apply to request financial aid, if required

Visit the FAFSA page to submit your request.

4. Submit the completed application form.

A university admission counselor will reach out to the students to inform them of further steps.

GCU conducts lectures both on-campus as well as in remote programs. The four-year graduation rate of on-campus graduating students and online graduating students are 57% and 68% respectively.

Does GCU Evaluate ACT Or SAT Scores When Accepting Applicants?

The scores are not considered for high school applicants with a GPA higher or equal to 3.0. However, ACT and SAT scores are required if the high school applicant has a GPA of 2.5 or higher but below 3.0. 

Are there placement exams at GCU?

Yes, there are two main placements at GCU. However, these placements are not compulsory for all enrolling students. The requirements are as follows.

1. All freshmen enrolling on-campus for a Math course that requires a score higher than MAT-110 are obligated to complete either the GCU Algebra Placement Exam or the GCU College Mathematics. However, students who have been transferred for an approved qualification with a grade of C or above do not need to face this exam. 
2. All on-campus students who lack the necessary competencies for English are required to complete the UNV 100.

Conclusion

GCU offers an acceptance rate of 73% as of fall 2018. Applicants are eligible for full admission if they are fully accepted with all basic requirements of admission set by GCU.  

Frequently asked questions

• Does GCU expect a statement of religious affiliation from students?

A statement of religious or faith affiliation is not required from applicants nor accepted students with an exception of Majors in the College Theology. Students looking forward to a Major in Theology must affirm GCU’s Doctrinal Statement and the College of Theology Covenant. However, the university pursues to assimilate Christian practices into all facets of the student’s University life as GCU’s religious affiliation is Christianity.

• How much does studying at GCU cost?

The GCU tuition fee for an international or national student who is living on campus residence is $16,500. The approximate cost for room and board for an on-campus student is $8100. The Tuition for online programs varies depending on the area of study and by credits depending on the level of the degree such as undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral.

• Are all applicants eligible to apply for institutional aid?

No, only on-campus students who meet the full acceptance criteria that qualify them for full admission are eligible for institutional aid (GCU grants and scholarships).

• How long does it take GCU to inform admission?

The university application committee takes a maximum of 2-3 weeks to evaluate the application. It will be followed by informing the student about differences or additional detail requirements.