Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen

Q: What GPA do I need to get a scholarship at GCU?

GCU offers academic scholarships to incoming freshmen with a minimum unweighted GPA of 2.8. Award levels range from $1,000 per year (Antelope) for a 2.8–2.99 GPA up to $7,250 per year (Chancellor) for a 4.0 unweighted GPA. Higher-tier awards also consider ACT and SAT scores. To confirm your scholarship eligibility, submit your application and transcripts through GCU's admissions process.

Q: Can GCU scholarships be renewed every year?

Yes, GCU academic scholarships are renewable annually for up to eight semesters (four years). To maintain your scholarship, you must make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at the end of each spring semester. Specific awards may have additional requirements such as maintaining a minimum GPA, living on campus or completing service hours. Check individual scholarship terms for details.

Q: What is the deadline to apply for GCU scholarships?

GCU evaluates scholarship eligibility as part of the admissions process. There is no separate scholarship application for most awards. However, some awards, such as the Chancellor scholarship, are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early is recommended. You must also submit final transcripts by day 21 of your first semester to confirm your award.

Q: Do I need to apply separately for GCU scholarships?

For most GCU scholarships, no separate application is required. Your scholarship eligibility is evaluated automatically when you apply for admission and submit your transcripts. However, competitive awards such as the Colangelo Scholarship require a separate application and additional documentation. Need-based scholarships also require submitting a FAFSA to GCU (school code 001074).

Overview

What Scholarships Are Available for Incoming Freshmen?

GCU offers three main types of scholarships for incoming freshmen: general (automatic) scholarships, program-specific scholarships and additional GCU scholarships.

These scholarships are available to students who plan to attend classes on GCU’s main campus as a traditional undergraduate student in the fall right after graduating from high school. To be eligible, students typically must graduate between December of the previous year and June of the year they plan to enroll.

Types of Scholarships You May Qualify For

General (automatic) scholarships: These scholarships are based on your academic achievements, such as your GPA or test scores. If you qualify, they are awarded automatically — no separate application needed.
Program-specific scholarships: These scholarships are tied to certain majors or areas of study. Eligibility depends on the program you choose.
Additional GCU scholarships: These are extra scholarship opportunities offered by GCU. They may be based on factors such as leadership, involvement or other accomplishments, and some may require a separate application.

"I received a few scholarships from my high school, which is an alpha or sister school to GCU, and a life leader scholarship from GCU. So, that helped make college affordable for me. Overall, I feel impressed with how much I’m spending at GCU compared to other colleges I considered. For example, certain costs, like housing and food, are lower than I expected. I know that the track I am on right now, I will graduate debt-free, which is super exciting!"

Kylan Aguirre

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, Class of 2025

What Our Students Are Saying

"I received a few scholarships from my high school, which is an alpha or sister school to GCU, and a life leader scholarship from GCU. So, that helped make college affordable for me. Overall, I feel impressed with how much I’m spending at GCU compared to other colleges I considered. For example, certain costs, like housing and food, are lower than I expected. I know that the track I am on right now, I will graduate debt-free, which is super exciting!"

Kylan Aguirre

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, Class of 2025

What Our Students Are Saying

"I received a few scholarships from my high school, which is an alpha or sister school to GCU, and a life leader scholarship from GCU. So, that helped make college affordable for me. Overall, I feel impressed with how much I’m spending at GCU compared to other colleges I considered. For example, certain costs, like housing and food, are lower than I expected. I know that the track I am on right now, I will graduate debt-free, which is super exciting!"

Kylan Aguirre

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, Class of 2025

"I received a few scholarships from my high school, which is an alpha or sister school to GCU, and a life leader scholarship from GCU. So, that helped make college affordable for me. Overall, I feel impressed with how much I’m spending at GCU compared to other colleges I considered. For example, certain costs, like housing and food, are lower than I expected. I know that the track I am on right now, I will graduate debt-free, which is super exciting!"

Kylan Aguirre

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, Class of 2025

How to Apply

How To Apply for High School Scholarships at GCU

Applying for scholarships at GCU can be simple. Follow the steps below to get started and make sure you’re considered for all available opportunities as an incoming freshman.

Follow these steps to apply for and access GCU scholarships as an incoming freshman:

Apply for admission and create your student portal

Submit your GCU application and set up your student portal. This is where you’ll track your admissions status and scholarship information.

Submit transcripts and check your eligibility

Send in your official high school transcripts as soon as possible. Once received, GCU will evaluate your GPA and automatically award any academic scholarships you qualify for. Check your portal or communication from your university counselor.

Review, accept and apply for additional opportunities

Review your scholarship offer and follow any steps to accept it. Then, explore additional GCU scholarships or external opportunities. Some may require a separate application, essay or supporting materials.

Academic

GCU Scholarship Award Amounts for Incoming Freshmen

GCU offers automatic academic scholarships for incoming freshmen. These are scholarships you’re considered for as part of your application, with no separate form required. Award amounts are based on your scholastic performance, primarily your unweighted high school GPA and, if submitted, standardized test scores. Academic scholarship renewability is based on maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as outlined in the University Policy Handbook.

GCU awards academic scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $7,250 per year, with seven award levels, from Antelope to Chancellor. Once you apply and submit your transcripts, the university will automatically evaluate your eligibility and include any scholarship you qualify for in your admissions offer.

Award Level

Annual Amount

GPA or

ACT^{(See disclaimer 1)} or

SAT^{(See disclaimer 1)} - 1600 Scale (math and reading only; test date after March 1, 2016)^{(See disclaimer 2)}

Chancellor^{(See disclaimer 3)}

$7,250

4.0 Unweighted

N/A

Chancellor – IB^{(See disclaimer 3)}

$6,250

IB Diploma Recipient

N/A

President

$6,000

3.9+

31

1410

Provost

$5,000

3.7 - 3.89

27

1295

Dean

$4,000

3.3 - 3.69

22

1130

Faculty

$3,000

3.0 - 3.29

19

1000

Antelope

$1,000

2.8 – 2.99

N/A

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 admission requirements.
The Chancellor award is the only scholarship level that requires an unweighted GPA for eligibility. There are a limited number of Chancellor awards and they are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Featured

What Scholarships Do You Qualify For?

In addition to academic awards, GCU offers a variety of scholarships for incoming high school students. These scholarships recognize factors beyond grades, such as leadership, involvement, unique experiences or personal achievements.

Explore the options below to see which opportunities you may qualify for and what requirements may apply:

California Grant Match Award

Kingdom Scholars Program

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 scholarship is subject to the university's financial aid limit policy. Please note that there are a limited number of awards available, so not all qualified students will receive funding.

Summer Accelerator Track

TheDream.US Scholarship

Canyon Rising Scholarships

This is a need-based scholarship program for eligible high school students entering GCU for the first time and are residents in Arizona or residents living outside Arizona. To be eligible, students must qualify to receive the maximum Pell Grant amount as determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submitting it to GCU (school code 001074). Students must also have a minimum of a 3.0 unweighted high school GPA.

This scholarship covers the remaining cost, after the Pell Grant award and all other GCU institutional aid is applied, to attend GCU for tuition. This award does not cover fees, program premiums, health insurance, housing and food-related expenses.

Earn to Learn

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.

$500

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.

Arizona Residents

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.

Out-of-State Residents

At GCU, we’re 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, Pell Grant and Education Tuition Voucher, to help make a 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)

CCSC 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, reach out to your university counselor to fill out the form on this page.

Canyon Christian Schools Consortium Award Options

Select One:

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.

# of Semesters Completed

On Campus

Off Campus

8 Semesters

$3,000 per year

$1,000 per year

7 Semesters

$2,625 per year

$875 per year

6 Semesters

$2,250 per year

$750 per year

5 Semesters

$1,875 per year

$625 per year

4 Semesters

$1,500 per year

$500 per year

3 Semesters

$1,125 per year

$375 per year

2 Semesters

$750 per year

$250 per year

1 Semester

$375 per year

$125 per year

CCSC Award 17-21

Qualified new students who are at least 17 and under the age of 21 must meet academic admissibility requirements and have graduated from a Canyon Christian Schools Consortium (CCSC) participant school with an unweighted GPA of 2.5 or higher. The scholarship awards $4,000 per academic year to on-campus students and $1,500 per academic year to off-campus students who are admissible and have attended all four years at their CCSC school.

CCSC Award 17-21 Calculation
The amount of your award is dependent upon the total number of semesters you successfully completed at your participating CCSC high school.

# of Semesters Completed

On Campus

Off Campus

8 Semesters

$4,000 per year

$1,500 per year

7 Semesters

$3,500 per year

$1,300 per year

6 Semesters

$3,000 per year

$1,100 per year

5 Semesters

$2,500 per year

$900 per year

4 Semesters

$2,000 per year

$750 per year

3 Semesters

$1,500 per year

$550 per year

2 Semesters

$1,000 per year

$350 per year

1 Semester

$500 per year

$150 per year

Programmatic

More College Scholarship Opportunities

Ingram Honors College Scholarship

The Sheila and Mike 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 on top of other GCU-funded institutional aid. This scholarship is only available to traditional, on-campus undergraduate students.

Academic Excellence Scholarship
GCU Canyon Rising Ambassador Scholar Program
Research Fellows Scholarship
Servant Leadership Scholarship

Barnabas Scholarship

GCU 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 1)}

For more details, speak with your university counselor or visit the link below for additional information.

Colangelo Scholarship

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 must have a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher and demonstrate a commitment to community service, entrepreneurship and academic excellence.

To renew the scholarship, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 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.

FAQ

High School Scholarship FAQs

Find answers to common questions about high school scholarships at GCU, including eligibility, application steps and what to expect.

What GPA do I need to get a scholarship at GCU?

Are GCU scholarships available for out-of-state students?

Yes. Most GCU academic and non-academic scholarships are available to students from any state. Some awards, such as the Canyon Rising Scholarship and the Grand Canyon University Award, have state-specific eligibility criteria or different award amounts for Arizona residents vs. out-of-state students. The Fostering Futures program also provides specific support for out-of-state foster youth. Connect with a university counselor to better answer state-specific questions.

Can GCU scholarships be renewed every year?

What is the deadline to apply for GCU scholarships?

Can I stack multiple GCU scholarships?

Some GCU scholarships can be combined, while others cannot. For example, the Ingram Honors College Scholarship is stackable on top of other GCU institutional aid. However, the Colangelo Scholarship replaces any other GCU institutional aid, and the Canyon Christian Schools Consortium Award cannot be combined with the Grand Canyon University Award. Your university counselor can help you identify the best combination of awards for your situation.

Do I need to apply separately for GCU scholarships?

Apply for a High School Scholarship at GCU

Jumpstart your future by applying for a GCU high school scholarship today.

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Approved by Junette, Jacob Lambert, Sarah B. and Jennifer Lawler on Aug. 28, 2026.