Grand Canyon University's Student Population: How Large Is It?

Grand Canyon University (GCU) is a large university with a significant student population. As of 2023, GCU had over 100,000 students enrolled, with a total undergraduate enrollment of 66,769 in the fall of 2022. The university offers a variety of academic programs and is administratively divided into nine colleges. GCU has a mix of on-campus and online students, with approximately 25,800 on-campus students and over 92,000 online students in 2023. The university's main campus is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it offers a range of resources and support services to meet the needs of its diverse student population.

Grand Canyon University's on-campus and online student population

Grand Canyon University (GCU) is a private, for-profit Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona. The university offers degrees in over 200 areas of study and is divided administratively into 9 colleges. GCU has a large student population, with a mix of on-campus and online learners.

As of 2023, GCU has more than 100,000 students enrolled, including both online and in-person learners. This makes it one of the largest Christian universities by enrollment. The university has experienced significant growth in recent years, with continuous expansion of its student population and campus infrastructure.

In terms of on-campus students, GCU's main campus in Phoenix had over 19,000 students as of 2017. The university has plans for further expansion to accommodate its growing student body. GCU also offers a satellite location in Northwest Phoenix for full-time and evening students. The total on-campus enrollment for the 2023-24 academic year is projected to be approximately 25,800 students, with about 17,500 students living in on-campus residence halls.

Online learning is a significant component of GCU's educational model, with more than 70,000 students attending online as of 2017. The university has continuously refined its digital platforms to deliver a campus-like experience to virtual learners. For the 2023-24 academic year, the projected online enrollment is over 92,000 students. This includes a significant number of traditional college-age students who opt for remote learning due to financial considerations and the desire to work from home.

GCU's total enrollment for the 2023-24 academic year is expected to exceed 118,000 students, including both on-campus and online learners. This projection represents a more than 14% increase in new students compared to the previous year. The university's acceptance rate for 2023 was 76.9%, and of those admitted, 23% enrolled.

Undergraduate and graduate enrollment

GCU's undergraduate enrollment specifically stands at over 66,000 students as of fall 2022. This figure represents a significant rise from previous years, with the university enrolling fewer than 1,000 students as recently as 2008. The university's expansion can be attributed to various factors, including investments in campus infrastructure and a freeze on tuition costs.

GCU's undergraduate programs offer a range of specializations, with broad degree tracks that allow students to emphasize specific areas of interest. For example, biology majors can choose to focus on Pre-Medicine, Pre-Pharmacy, or Pre-Physician Assistant, while art design majors can emphasize animation, screenwriting, web design, or production.

In addition to its on-campus programs, GCU caters to a large number of online students. As of 2017, more than 70,000 students attended GCU online, benefiting from the university's commitment to refining its digital platforms and delivering a campus-like experience to virtual learners.

The university's total enrollment, including both undergraduate and graduate students, was over 118,000 in 2023, with approximately 25,800 on-campus students and more than 92,000 online learners. This diverse and expansive student body contributes to a vibrant and engaging educational community at GCU.

Full-time and part-time students

Grand Canyon University (GCU) has a large student population, with a total of over 100,000 students enrolled as of September 2023. This includes both online and in-person learners, making GCU one of the largest Christian universities by enrolment.

The breakdown of full-time and part-time students at GCU is as follows:

Full-Time Students

According to Data USA, GCU had a full-time enrolment of 23,951 students in 2022. This accounts for about 23.5% of the total student population, which is lower than the 77.4% observed at similar doctoral universities. Niche reports a slightly lower number, stating that there are 23,945 full-time undergraduate students enrolled.

Full-time students at GCU have access to a range of resources and facilities. The university offers modern residence halls, dining options, libraries, classrooms, and recreational centres. The university's retention rate for full-time undergraduates was 70% in 2022, lower than the 84% average for similar doctoral universities.

Part-Time Students

In contrast, part-time enrolment at GCU was reported as 77,865 in 2022, making up the majority of the student body. This large number of part-time students reflects the university's focus on flexibility and accessibility, catering to those who may have work or family commitments alongside their studies.

GCU offers various resources to support part-time students, including online and hybrid learning options. The university has continuously refined its digital platforms to deliver a campus-like experience to virtual learners. Additionally, GCU provides a satellite location in Northwest Phoenix, making it more convenient for part-time and evening students to attend classes closer to home.

Male-female student ratio

Grand Canyon University (GCU) is a private Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. The university has a large student population, with a total enrollment of around 103,427 students as of 2022. This includes both undergraduate and graduate students, with the majority of students enrolled in online programs.

When it comes to the male-to-female ratio, GCU has a higher number of female students. Here is a breakdown of the male-female student ratio at GCU:

Undergraduate Level:

The full-time undergraduate population at GCU consists of 62% women and 38% men. This translates to approximately 76,087 female undergraduate students and 27,340 male undergraduate students.

Graduate Level:

At the graduate level, the gender ratio shifts slightly. Among full-time graduate students, about 43% are women, while 57% are men. However, the overall number of graduate students is relatively small, with only 7 graduate students reported in one source.

Degree Awards:

In 2022, GCU awarded a total of 29,319 degrees across all undergraduate and graduate programs. Of these, 76.5% were awarded to women, and 23.5% were awarded to men. This disparity is also evident in specific degree programs. For example, in Registered Nursing, which was the most common Bachelor's degree concentration, 4,895 degrees were awarded to women, compared to 557 degrees awarded to men.

Faculty:

The gender ratio among the faculty at GCU is closer to balanced. The university employs approximately 5,434 female teachers and 3,679 male teachers.

In summary, Grand Canyon University has a higher proportion of female students, with women outnumbering men in both undergraduate and graduate programs. This trend is also reflected in degree awards, with a significant majority of degrees being conferred upon female students. However, the faculty gender ratio is more balanced, with a slightly higher number of female teachers than male teachers.

Racial and ethnic composition of the student body

Grand Canyon University (GCU) is a private Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona, founded in 1949. The university has a large student population, with a total enrollment of 101,816 students in 2022. Of these, 19,937 are undergraduates, and just 7 are graduate students. The remaining students are enrolled in online courses.

In terms of racial and ethnic composition, GCU has a predominantly White student body, with other groups represented as follows:

• 21.2% of students are Hispanic or Latino
• 18.6% are Black or African American
• 4.16% identify with Two or More Races
• 3.23% are Asian
• 0.95% are American Indian or Alaska Native
• 0.589% are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders

Additionally, 3.44% of students did not report their race.

GCU's student population is more diverse than that of other Doctoral Universities, which are 47.5% White, 15.5% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.58% Black or African American.

The racial and ethnic composition of GCU's faculty also shows high diversity, with Black or African American and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander being the most common groups represented.

Frequently asked questions