Grand Canyon University and Homeschool Families
A Welcoming Environment for All
With our commitment to following CDC guidance for safety, GCU has made the thoughtful decision to cancel all upcoming Discover GCU events and in-person campus tours at this time. We encourage you to participate in our virtual GCU LIVE Experiences to discover campus from your home.
Grand Canyon University’s campus is a welcoming learning and growing environment for students who come from all types of backgrounds. Home-educated students become part of a diverse, faith-oriented community where they have opportunities to get involved in activities, sports, clubs and organizations, meet like-minded people, pursue their interests, attend campus events and participate in service projects that all help turn GCU into a second home.
At GCU, Christian convictions, Christ-focused curriculum and service beyond the classroom make up One Foundation, which guides the university toward faithfulness, excellence and service to its neighbors and God.
Campus living also provides home-schooled students with brand-new learning experiences that help them prosper. The campus continues to expand beyond 250-plus acres with new residence halls and academic buildings, popular eateries, recreational and fitness centers and state-of-the-art facilities like the Colangelo College of Business, Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark and the Canyon Activity Complex.
“As soon as I stepped on campus, I felt like I was part of a huge family. I am more introverted so I was worried about how hard it would be for me to push myself and make friends freshman year, but I ended up making some of my best friends at the Welcome Week events. Another way I instantly felt welcome at GCU was by joining different clubs and taking advantage of local outreach opportunities.”
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Many arrive at GCU well-prepared for the college journey because of the academically enriched learning experiences they received as home-educated students. GCU values the methodology of a students’ home school experience. For that reason, we do not require additional testing or validation of a students’ transcripts for acceptance.
Our university serves as an extension, so students easily adjust to rigorous college-level academics and start to succeed right from the beginning. If students experience any challenges, they can easily connect with academic and career planning assistance, spiritual life opportunities, health and wellness resources, university counselors and more services that are readily available. GCU is committed to meeting the needs of all students, including those who have received home education.
GCU proudly partners with a variety of organizations to offer home-schooled students the opportunity to get a head start on college through online dual enrollment:
- Choose from approximately 50 university-level courses; each seven-week class has year-round start dates (15-week courses are available)
- Students can participate as early as sophomore year and can take up to 60 credits during high school
- Take classes online with the flexibility to conveniently learn at home according to the student’s schedule
- Transfer college credits easily toward GCU degree programs or other universities
- Receive the same resources and quality instruction, taught through the lens of our Christian worldview, as traditional students
Earn college credits early to accelerate the college academic journey
- Prepare to easily transition into college and to meet college expectations
- Graduate college early and enter the workforce early
- Save time and money, thus reducing student loan debt
Visit gcu.edu/DualEnrollment for more information and to sign up today!
The Alliance Program for Homeschool Achievement (ALPHA) is a GCU participant program providing services and opportunities for home-schooled co-ops and families. ALPHA supports home-schooled high schoolers who are ready to take the next step in their education. To ease students into college and help them prepare, the program connects families with scholarship opportunities, university program and event discounts, professional development and free opportunities including:
- College prep forum covering GPA/ACT/SAT requirements, scholarships and majors
- Dual enrollment course planning for specific majors
- Free afternoon tutoring for dual enrollment students
- Transcript how-to guide • Campus tours and student panels
- GCU representation at college fairs and back-to-school nights
- Workshops on topics like STEM, human anatomy, forensic science, speech and debate
- Discover GCU — an overnight real college experience that gives high schoolers a glimpse into college life on campus
- High school matinees and special events at GCU's Ethington Theatre
- Recording Studio tours for worship arts students • GCU Chapel services
Transitioning into a traditional college environment is a major change as the uncertainty of college can be intimidating and stressful; GCU understands that. To help students with a smooth and informed transition from homeschool to college, GCU offers many spiritual life opportunities including Life Groups, Chapel and The Gathering. GCU also has university counselors that work with students and their families to provide personalized service regarding:
- Planning the move to college
- Submitting transcripts
- Navigating the scholarship application and award letter process with transparency, so students can make the best financial decisions for their situation
- Advising about the advantages of dual enrollment and graduating early
- Exploring academic programs, campus life and more
Visit Campus Your Way
Future Lopes can choose to take part in one of the programs outlined below. Visit our campus today!
Discover GCU
We want our students to feel confident in their college decision, which is why we offer Discover GCU. Through this all-expenses paid* on-campus experience, high school students have the opportunity to tour campus, stay overnight in a residence hall, meet with an admissions counselor, learn about our various degree programs, socialize with other future Lopes and more!
Experience GCU with your loved one.
You and a parent and/or guardian will have the opportunity to discover what it means to be a Lope! Schedule your own visit to campus and have your trip reimbursed by GCU by participating in our Homeschool Trip Reimbursement Program.**
If you prefer, you can choose to have your student stay overnight on campus in one of our residence halls and attend Discover GCU.
Contact your university admissions counselor for instructions on how to apply for our trip reimbursement program. Your trip reimbursement must be approved before the travel dates are confirmed.
During your visit, you will:
- Meet with your university admissions counselor
- Tour our vibrant campus
- Meet current GCU students
- Check out our on-campus eateries, academic buildings, recreation facilities and more
- Explore campus at your own pace
GCU Admission Requirements
Going from homeschool to college is simple at GCU. The college requirements for homeschoolers is the same as any other student. GCU will accept your academic transcripts, and you do not need to retake labs and/or tests if you have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Find information on GCU’s admission requirements, and once you find you meet the necessary requirements, follow the steps below to get started.
Next Steps
STEP 1: Apply for free at gcu.edu/ApplyNow
STEP 2: Set up your student portal, upload your transcripts and monitor your progress toward acceptance
STEP 3: Once transcripts are evaluated, sign up for Discover GCU, our all-expenses paid* on-campus experience to learn more about Lope Life
STEP 4: Register early to lock in your scholarships, class schedule and housing preferences
For more information, contact us at 855-GCU-LOPE.
*Restrictions for travel reimbursement may apply.
**Reimbursement must be approved before the travel dates are confirmed. This program is only available to homeschool high school juniors and seniors plus one legal guardian. Receipts are necessary for reimbursement and an MOU needs to be signed. For air travel, reimbursement maximums are $300 if your city of residence is less than 600 miles from Phoenix, $500 if your city of residence is between 600 –1,000 miles from Phoenix and $700 if your city of residence is greater than 1,000 miles from Phoenix. Reimbursement usually occurs within 45 day of your trip. For ground travel reimbursement, the student must establish his/her city/state of residence. GCU reimburses mileage at $.42 per mile and will use the student’s home address to determine the reimbursement amount. Ground travel reimbursement cannot exceed $100 (238 total miles).
For more information about the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (800-621-7440; http://hlcommission.org/). Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu.edu/academics/academic-policies.php. GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. Further detail on GCU’s Non-Discrimination policies can be found at gcu.edu/titleIX. The information printed in this material is accurate as of NOVEMBER 2019. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu. ©2019 Grand Canyon University 19GTR0370