Grand Canyon University Clubs and Organizations

Find Your Purpose

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Overview

Find Your Community at GCU. Discover Your Calling

College is about more than academics; it’s about finding where you belong. With over 130 student clubs and organizations, GCU helps create spaces where you can connect with others who share your interests, values and goals. Build friendships, explore your passions, grow in your faith and develop leadership skills by getting involved in campus organizations. Embrace and grow in your connection to the GCU community by finding your people.

Why Join

Why Join a College Club or Organization

You should consider joining a college club or organization to help make campus feel like home. Student organizations at GCU offer more than activities; they create opportunities to build friendships, develop leadership skills and grow personally and professionally.

Student Organization Benefits

Whether you’re interested in academic clubs, cultural organizations or recreational activities, getting involved can help shape your college experience.

When you join a student organization, you can:

Connect with students who share your interests and career goals

Develop leadership and communication skills

Strengthen your resume with hands-on experience

Participate in service and outreach opportunities

Deepen your faith through Christ-centered community

Create lasting friendships outside the classroom

Interests

Explore Student Clubs by Interest

GCU has over 130 clubs and organizations, as of the 2025-26 academic year. College-based learning communities can provide you with the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers who share common academic goals and similar special interests. As part of a goal-oriented learning community, you can network and further personal or professional development through relationship building, peer-to-peer support and camaraderie.

Beyond the classroom, our student clubs and organizations invite you to enjoy exciting new experiences, build lifelong friendships and let your Lope spirit soar.

Academic and Honor Societies

Explore organizations designed to help you grow academically, prepare for your career and connect with peers in your field of study.

Academic club examples:

Alpha Chi National College Honor Society — GCU Chapter: National honor society that recognizes students in the top 10% of their class and offers opportunities for leadership, scholarship and service
Alpha Psi Omega: National honor society that recognizes student achievement and leadership in theatre arts
American Society of Microbiology — GCU Chapter: Student organization that connects those interested in microbiology through networking, research and professional development opportunities
Delta Mu Delta Eta Chi — GCU Chapter: International honor society that recognizes high-achieving business students and promotes academic excellence and professional growth

Cultural

Celebrate diversity, foster belonging and build cultural awareness through student-led community organizations.

Cultural club examples:

Black Student Union (BSU): Promotes cultural awareness, leadership and community engagement
Latino Student Union: Celebrates Hispanic heritage and builds community among students
Native American Club: Student organization that celebrates Native American culture, builds community and promotes awareness through events, education and support
GCU Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander Student Association: Encourages cultural appreciation and community building

Community and Volunteer

Serve your local and global community through mission trips, volunteer events and campus service initiatives.

Clubs that focus on volunteering, service projects and community engagement.

Circle K International: Service-oriented international student organization focused on community volunteering and leadership
Engineers Gone Global (EGG): Community and volunteer club engaging in service-based engineering projects
GCU Volunteer: General volunteer group for students who want to serve locally and beyond
Love from Lopes: Community service club focused on outreach and giving back

Performance, Visual and Fine Arts

From music and theater to digital arts and design, creative clubs allow students to express their talents and collaborate with others.

Clubs centered on creative arts, performance or media include:

Creative Herd: Visual and performance arts group
GCU Commercial Music: Music-focused club for performance and collaboration
GCU Digital Film Production Club: Club focused on film creation and media projects
Student Dance Organization (SDO): Performance and dance-focused student org

Social Clubs

Meet new friends and connect through shared hobbies, interests and community-building activities.

Here are a few social club examples:

Adulting 101: Focuses on life skills and community connections
Defenders: Centers on common interest/community
GCU NAMI (National Association of Mental Illness): Centers around mental health and support
Modern Boardgamer’s Guild (MBG): Welcomes board game enthusiasts
GCU Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Martial arts club
GCU Sport Fishing Association: Outdoor recreation club for fishing enthusiasts
Game Development Club: For students interested in game-making and design
GCU Thunderbots Robotics Club: Robotics and tech-focused group (often intersects with gaming/systems)

Outreach and Governmental Clubs

These clubs educate others about global, environmental and governmental issues occurring in the world today.

Examples of governmental-focused clubs include:

GCU Pro Life Club: Outreach and advocacy group focused on life issues
History and Government: Student club focused on governmental studies and civic discussions
Progressive Student Alliance (PSA): Outreach and governmental activism group
Turning Point USA (TPUSA): Governmental/political outreach and engagement club

Career and Pre-Professional

Career and pre-professional clubs at GCU help students explore career paths, build practical skills and connect with peers and professionals in their future fields.

Examples of career and pre-professional clubs include:

Pre-Dental Society: Student organization that supports aspiring dentists through networking, resources and preparation for dental school
Women in Business Club: Empowers female students through networking, mentorship and professional development opportunities in business
Forensic Science Society Club: Provides students interested in forensic science with opportunities to explore the field through education, networking and hands-on experiences
Canyon Counselors: Supports future counseling professionals through community, mentorship and opportunities for personal and professional growth

How To Join

How To Join a Student Club or Organization

Clubs are open to students from all majors, and many organizations welcome freshmen from their first semester. Getting involved at GCU is simple.

Step 1

Attend the club and community fairs offered once a semester or explore available organizations online at gculife.gcu.edu.

Step 2

Reach out to the clubs on Instagram or look for their page on GCU Life for accurate meeting dates, times and locations.

Step 3

Become a member of the club(s) you are interested in and start participating. It's that easy!

See How GCU Prepares You for Your Career

Build leadership and practical skills through academics and campus involvement designed to prepare you for your future career. Connect with a university counselor to learn more.

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Embrace the Opportunity To Lead

Many GCU clubs offer opportunities for students to take on leadership roles, such as serving on executive boards or helping guide club initiatives. Getting involved at this level allows students to strengthen their leadership skills, collaborate with peers who share similar goals and build connections that support their academic and professional journeys.

Being a part of the board has helped me so much academically, professionally and emotionally. I’ve gained some really great connections on the board.

Lindsey Crowe

GCU Nursing Student, Student Nurses Association Treasurer

Events

Signature Campus Events and Traditions

Throughout the year, student organizations host events that bring the campus community together.

Events may include:

Club fairs
Cultural celebrations
Service days
Fundraisers and philanthropy events
Esports tournaments

These traditions help create a vibrant campus culture where students can build friendships and lasting memories.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Student Clubs

Getting involved in a club is one of the many ways students connect with the GCU community and enrich their campus experience. Below are answers to some common questions about student clubs and organizations at GCU.

How many student organizations does GCU have?

Can freshmen join clubs?

Are there faith-based student organizations?

Do GCU clubs cost money?

In general, clubs recognize that extracurriculars can be a financial burden to students, and most are accessible with little to no fees to participate. Clubs also fundraise and can apply for department funding allocating at the start of each semester to subsidize their expenses.

Each club is independently operated and able to collect fees for membership. National organizations with GCU chapters may have dues and fees to access the benefits. To understand the club’s current requirements for participation, we encourage students to reach out to the clubs directly via their social media.

Can online students participate in GCU clubs and organizations?

Is there a limit to how many clubs a student can join?

There is no limit to how many clubs a student can join. College is a great opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and many students experiment and attend a club a few times before committing.

A best practice for club participation is quality over quantity. We find that students who pursue being more engaged with a select few clubs are able to build stronger connections and community to supplement their college experience. We recommend choosing at least one special interest/social club and one pre-professional club that is supportive of your area of study or career goal.

Requirements may vary depending on the nature of the club. While many clubs provide casual participation, some clubs are more specific on requirements for membership. Students should be sure to clarify their questions with the club officers directly.

How do I start a new club at GCU?

GCU has a vast number of clubs across a wide range of categories and topics — you can view the list of all GCU clubs to explore them all. If you still feel there is a need to start a specific club, here are the steps to take:

Ensure your proposed club aligns with GCU’s mission, student handbook and policy manual. The club must also be nonprofit and follow GCU’s discrimination policy.
Gather the following people: one full-time GCU faculty member to oversee the club (cannot be GCE or adjunct), a minimum of five student members, a minimum of two club officers, one president and one vice president.
Fill out the required paperwork, which can be found under Club Forms.
Get a minimum of 50 student signatures.
Submit all documents as PDFs to Clubs@gcu.edu.

What is Greek life like at GCU?

GCU does not have traditional Greek life with fraternities and sororities. Instead, we offer a wide variety of student clubs and organizations that allow you to connect with others who share similar interests, passions and academic goals. These groups span areas such as service, leadership, professional development, cultural engagement and hobbies, giving you many opportunities to get involved and build community on campus.

A Community Built Around Your Interests

Our student clubs and organizations bring together Lopes who share similar interests, goals and ambitions. Whether you’re exploring a new idea, building leadership skills or connecting with peers in your field, clubs and organizations provide opportunities to grow, collaborate and form lasting friendships.

What the IDEA Club does is we help students start businesses. We've hosted marketplaces on campus, as well as a pitch-style event called The Canyon Challenge. If you are looking to get involved and this is something that interests you, I highly recommend you check out GCU.

Alex Lopez

IDEA Club Director of Events, Mentorship Executive

Find Your People. Fuel Your Passion.

Whether you're into music, gaming, leadership, culture or community service, there’s a club or organization that fits you.

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