GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY REDUCES ROOM AND BOARD, FREEZES TUITION
Significant scholarships for transfer students equalize private and public education costs
PHOENIX (Oct. 7, 2009) – In an effort to encourage the pursuit of a college degree in these
recessionary times, Phoenix-based Grand Canyon University (GCU) today announced significant
cuts to its housing and meal plans, the elimination of campus parking and facilities fees and a tuition
freeze for its current and incoming students attending classes on campus. The reductions, along with
an increase in available scholarships for transfer students brings the cost of attending a private
university to a level that is nearly equal to or less than the cost of attending a public institution, and
dramatically less than most other private universities throughout the country. The new costs are
effective January 1, 2010 and include all students living on campus for the spring semester.
"We want people to know that a high quality private faith-based education in a safe environment can
be affordable, accessible and realized even in these recessionary times," said Grand Canyon
University CEO Brian Mueller.
GCU's room and board will be reduced an average of 20 percent. Among the other commitments
from the University's administration:
Tuition for on-campus students will be frozen through the 2011 – 2012 school year
Substantial additional dollars in scholarships will be dedicated to transferring students,
including a new Arizona resident grant for admissible students
Parking and other facilities fees totaling almost $600 will be eliminated
Students receive free admission to any of the University's athletic events
All students meeting minimum GPA requirements are guaranteed placement in their
professional college of choice
GCU also offers a substantial number of academic scholarships available to incoming students with
a minimum high school or college GPA of 3.0 as well as spiritual life and athletic scholarships.
"We recognize that families and students are struggling right now with the economic prospects of
higher education. They may have delayed plans to attend college, or may be enrolled in an
environment not suited to their personality or lifestyle. A private education can be the high quality,
personal and affordable solution they're seeking to pursue their academic and professional purpose,"
Mueller said.
GCU cites its accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission and multiple programmatic
accreditations, the ability to charge the same for both in-state and out-of-state students, as well as its
safe environment, small class size and full-time campus faculty (teaching assistants are not
employed in the classroom) as major advantages in its private school experience.
“Our students have the opportunity to live in campus housing that is modern and up-to-date, with
spacious rooms and apartments. We have a secure campus with ample opportunities for student
involvement and most importantly, a place where we can guarantee that you will not be a nameless
face in a crowd of thousands,” Mueller said.
Mueller often draws comparisons to the costs of attending and living on campus at public institutions,
noting the cost to attend GCU, especially with the abundant scholarships, will, for many students, be
equal to or less than the cost of attending one of the state's public universities.
"The cost of attending ASU or UA for an honors-level student, living on campus, is estimated at just
more than $20,000. With these new reductions along with our generous scholarships and close-knit
campus community, I think the return on investment speaks for itself," Mueller said.
Mueller is encouraging GCU's existing students to recruit their friends to consider GCU to fill the 600
available spots for the spring semester. He recently announced plans for a 55,000 square-foot
student recreation center and additional student housing, anticipated to be ready for the fall 2010
semester.
"The tuition rate for our online students has consistently been in the lowest 25 percent of all private
universities offering online programs," Mueller said. “With these decreases, our campus students will
now receive a private Christian education at rates commensurate with a state university education
and well below rates at most private universities in the country.”
New model of higher education supports reinvestment
GCU offers a unique model for higher education - an institution that marries the best of a traditional
campus environment with the quality attributes of an online degree program. The University is
market-supported and does not rely on taxpayer dollars or public financing, but rather is fueled by
the popularity of its reputable online degree programs and the credibility of its campus assets. GCU's
95-acre campus offers more NCAA-competitive sports than any other institution in Arizona, including
men's and women's basketball, volleyball, golf, swimming, cross country and tennis teams, as well
as baseball, softball, lacrosse and wrestling. The University recently announced plans for a 5,000-
seat performance center to host its newly invigorated men’s basketball program and 200-plus
conferences, community events and Christian concerts.
Enrollment in GCU's online degree programs have quadrupled over the past four years and now
numbers more than 25,000. The increased interest in the online program has been prompted by the
pursuits of those looking to change careers or enhance their professional status through advanced
education, and the appeal of GCU’s faith-based curriculum with its traditional campus. GCU's robust
online curriculum has received accolades through national awards and rankings.
More information about GCU's Cost Reduction Plan is available at http://gcu.edu/costreduction or
by calling 877.820.5042.
About Grand Canyon University
Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is a traditional regionally accredited, private, Christian
university offering campus-based and online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs through the
Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Education, College of Nursing and Health Sciences,
and College of Liberal Arts. The Phoenix-based school is ranked as having one of the top online
education programs by OEDb (Online Education Database). GCU emphasizes individual attention
for both traditional undergraduate students as well as the working professional. For more information
visit www.gcu.edu.
