Scholarships for Transfer Students and Gap Year Students
What Scholarships Are Available for Transfer and Gap Year Students?
Gap year and transfer student scholarships are designed to support students whose path to college differs from enrolling immediately after high school. At GCU, these scholarships may be available to traditional, on-campus undergraduate students who either delayed enrollment or are transferring from another institution.
Transfer student scholarships are for students who have already started coursework at another college or university and plan to continue their degree at GCU. These awards may be based on factors such as cumulative college GPA, completed credit hours and academic achievement at the previous institution.
Scholarships for gap year students are for learners who graduated from high school but did not enroll in college immediately and plan to begin their degree at GCU after time away. These awards may be based on factors such as high school GPA, standardized test scores and any academic activity completed during the gap year.
How To Apply for Gap and Transfer Student Scholarships at GCU
Applying for gap and transfer student scholarships at GCU is a straightforward process designed to help you transition seamlessly into your academic journey. GCU evaluates your eligibility based on your academic history, including GPA and any completed credits. By submitting key documents and meeting basic requirements, you can be considered for a range of merit-based awards that help make your education more affordable.
To apply for a gap and transfer student scholarship, you must:
Submit Your Academic Records
Provide unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended after high school. If you have not completed college coursework, submit your high school transcript. Test scores (SAT/ACT) may also be included if you have a minimum 2.5 unweighted GPA, while students with six or more college credits can qualify using their transfer GPA.
Finalize and Send Official Transcripts
After completing your final terms, submit official transcripts to GCU to confirm your eligibility. For scholarship adjustments, unofficial transcripts should be submitted at least two weeks before the term begins, and official transcripts must be received by day 21 to secure your award.
Maintain Eligibility and Enrollment
Once enrolled as a full-time, undergraduate student and attending classes in-person on GCU’s main campus, you must maintain continuous full-time enrollment and meet all scholarship requirements to remain eligible for renewal.
What Are Gap and Transfer Student Scholarship Awards?
Gap and transfer student scholarship awards are merit-based scholarships designed to recognize your prior academic achievement and support your transition to GCU. Awards are structured in tiers based on GPA, test scores and completed college credits, with multiple levels available to match your qualifications. Academic scholarship renewability is based on maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as outlined in the University Policy Handbook. Explore the options below to see how your academic achievements may align with available scholarship opportunities.
GCU Scholarship Award Amounts for Gap and Transfer Students
The following annual scholarship amounts reflect the 2026–27 academic year and are determined by your academic qualifications at the time of admission. Awards are renewable each year, provided you continue to meet eligibility requirements.
- If student is admitted based on ACT or SAT, student needs a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 2.5 to be awarded.
- If student's test date was before March 1, 2016, please find more information on requirements at gcu.edu/admissions
Â
What Scholarships Do You Qualify For?
Non-academic scholarships and grants recognize a combination of factors, which may or may not include GPA, such as academics, leadership, community involvement, program participation and/or financial need. These opportunities can provide additional funding or be combined with other aid to further reduce your overall cost of attendance.
Explore additional scholarship opportunities:
California Grant Match Award
Kingdom Scholars Program
Summer Accelerator Track
TheDream.US Scholarship
Earn to Learn
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Psi Beta Scholarship
Grand Canyon University Award
This award offers $1,000 per academic year to Arizona students and $250 to out-of-state new students who graduate from one of GCU's participant high schools with an unweighted GPA of 2.5, an ACT score of 19 or higher or an SAT of 1000 or higher. Students attending one of the Maricopa County Community College campuses must have earned an associate degree or equivalent for the award. This award is renewable annually for fall and spring semesters for up to eight semesters. It cannot be combined with the Canyon Christian Schools Consortium Award and is only available for traditional, undergraduate on-campus students.
Lope Life Housing Award
This award provides the following scholarship per academic year for traditional undergraduate on-campus students who are accepted and have met the deadlines below to register for classes and secure housing. This award is renewable for up to eight semesters as long as award eligibility is maintained and the student remains admissible and continues to live on campus. The Lope Life Housing Award will be applied to tuition and fees, and any excess will be applied to housing. Register for classes and secure your housing room assignment by Aug. 15, 2026 to secure your award.
Award amount per academic year
Fostering Futures Scholarship
GCU honors the strength and resilience of students who have experienced foster care. To support them, we offer the Fostering Futures program, which can help current and former foster youth take the next step toward their future. This program aims to make a private Christian education more accessible through financial aid opportunities and career and life resources.
GCU, along with the State of Arizona’s Department of Child Safety, created a college pathway scholarship program that covers the costs for tuition, other fees, housing and food plans to help qualified Arizona students experiencing foster care to achieve their academic goals.
GCU is committed to supporting out-of-state students through our Fostering Futures initiative. We offer a range of financial aid opportunities, including the Canyon Rising Scholarship and the Pell Grant and Education Tuition Voucher, to help make quality college education accessible. Additionally, we work directly with your home state to identify and apply any benefits you may be eligible for.
Canyon Christian Schools Consortium (CCSC)
The Canyon Christian Schools Consortium (CCSC) is a GCU alliance program that offers scholarships and tuition savings to students graduating from participating Christian high schools, helping make their transition to GCU more affordable.
Both awards are renewable annually for fall and spring, up to eight semesters. This award requires the student to maintain continuous full-time enrollment, attend a campus worship service weekly, and meet the 40-hour service requirement each academic year. Students who fail to meet the 40-hour service requirement may have their scholarship revoked. GCU determines where each student serves to meet the requirement. These awards cannot be combined with the Grand Canyon University Award. This scholarship is subject to the Grand Canyon University CAP policy and cannot exceed your charges.
If you are a resident assistant, life leader, or participating in a scholarship program that also reduces any on-campus housing cost, your CCSC scholarship will be reduced by $1,000. This $1,000 reduction will fulfill a CCSC recipient’s 40-hour service requirement for the academic year in which the reduction occurs.
For more information about scholarship requirements, fill out the form on this page, and a university counselor will reach out to discuss your options.
Canyon Christian Schools Consortium Award Options
CCSC Award 21-23
New students who are at least 21 but under the age of 23 are eligible for a reduced CCSC Award. To qualify, students must have graduated from a CCSC school prior to the contract signing date and they must start a program of study prior to the age of 23. The CCSC 21-23 scholarship awards $3,000 per academic year to on-campus students and $1,000 per academic year to off-campus students who are admissible and attended all four years at their CCSC school.
CCSC Award 21-23 Calculation
The amount of your award is dependent upon the total number of semesters you successfully completed at your participating CCSC high school.
Pell Grant Match Scholarship
This need-based scholarship program is available to on-campus students attending the traditional campus who qualify for the Pell Grant. Eligibility is determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submitting it to GCU (school code 001074). Students must be first-time entrants, either as high school students or transfer students, with a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 2.5 or a 2.5 cumulative college GPA.
The scholarship ensures that a student's institutional aid package at GCU matches at least the value of the Pell Grant and is renewable for up to eight semesters, provided the Pell Grant continues to exceed the institutional aid. This grant is subject to the university's financial aid limit policy. Please note that there is a limited number of awards available, so not all qualified students will receive funding.
Discover Additional Scholarships
The Ingram Honors College Academic Excellence and Servant Leadership scholarship may be awarded in varying amounts, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per academic year. Multiple awards are available. This scholarship is stackable with other GCU-funded institutional aid and is available only to traditional undergraduate on-campus students. For more information about scholarship requirements, speak with your university counselor.
-Academic Excellence Scholarship
-GCU Canyon Rising Ambassador Scholar Program
-Research Fellows Scholarship
-Leadership in Action Scholarship
Grand Canyon University now offers two Barnabas Program Scholarship opportunities designed to reward eligible students who are pursuing a degree or minor from the College of Theology who demonstrate commitment and academic excellence throughout their studies.(See disclaimer 2) For more details, speak with your university counselor or visit the link below for additional information.
For traditional, undergraduate on-campus business students only, this scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship available to both high school and transfer incoming students of $16,500 per academic year, renewed for up to eight semesters and would take the place of any other GCU institutional aid. To be eligible, students are required to possess a 3.5 cumulative, unweighted GPA or greater and display a dedication to community service, entrepreneurship and academic excellence. To renew the scholarship, students must maintain a 3.0 or greater GPA. Please note that this scholarship will be awarded to two incoming students each year. Due to the competitive nature, students must complete the application to include all required documentation.
This program offers a reduced tuition cost of $300 per credit hour for on-campus and commuter students throughout the duration of a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts program through the Seminary, and 50% off the cost of your housing rate during your program. To be eligible for the housing discount, age restrictions may apply. This award is renewable annually for up to a maximum of four years if you maintain continuous full-time enrollment on the traditional campus. This scholarship cannot be combined with any other GCU scholarships. If you are unable to start your program and/or are unable to successfully complete your first semester, your scholarship will be forfeited.
GCU’s Registration Commitment
GCU’s Registration Commitment is your chance to secure a scholarship offer and admission decision for a future semester. By sharing your intent, GCU’s admissions team can appropriately plan for your arrival.
This option is available to a variety of incoming students including those taking a gap year, those currently enrolled at another school or those planning to attend another school prior to attending GCU.
Please contact your university counselor today to learn more about your next steps. We look forward to working with you on your journey to become a future Lope!
Benefits include:
Secure your scholarship early
Lock in your GCU scholarship offer by completing your Registration Commitment, helping you plan ahead and better understand your financial options for a future semester.
Personalized academic planning
Receive guidance on course selection and transfer credits to help maximize the value of previous coursework and support a smoother transition into your program.
Early access to campus experiences
Gain invitations to select campus events and experiences, giving you the opportunity to explore GCU’s community and connect before your first semester begins.
Dedicated admissions support
Stay connected with university counselors who can provide ongoing support, answer questions and help you navigate your next steps leading up to enrollment.
Gap and Transfer Student Scholarship FAQs
Find answers to common questions about scholarships available to gap year and transfer students, including eligibility, application details and how to maximize your opportunities.
Can transfer students qualify for scholarships at GCU?
Are scholarships available for students who took a gap year?
Can students receive more than one scholarship?
Are gap and transfer student scholarships renewable?
Does the number of transfer credits affect scholarship eligibility?
Will my previous college GPA be used for scholarship eligibility?
Take the next step and apply to see which gap or transfer scholarships you may qualify for at GCU.
- Review institutional aid limits (scholarship caps) in the institutional aid section of the University Policy Handbook. Visit earntolearn.org/grand-canyon-university for eligibility requirements.
- The Barnabas Scholarship Program will be used to cover your GCU tuition expenses progressively throughout your studies. This scholarship has no cash value and cannot be used for food and housing.