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As you prepare for your collegiate career with GCU, determining housing and meal plan costs ahead of time can help you budget accordingly. Learn more about housing and meal plan options, as well as respective rates, below.
Housing and food (meal plans) are included in your program's cost of attendance. Living on campus means direct payments to the university; commuting doesn't involve university payments for housing and food, but meal plans are optional. GCU provides a detailed cost of attendance for each program. Visit our Cost of Attendance page for more information.
GCU was ranked as having the top five best college dorms in America for 2025, according to Niche.com.1
GCU offers options for residence halls and apartments to help meet your lifestyle needs. Use the housing rates listed below to calculate your potential costs.
Housing is included in the cost of attendance for your program. For further information, please visit our Cost of Attendance page.2
All residents commit to housing reservations as an academic year-long lease (both fall and spring semesters) and are charged for housing by the academic year (both fall and spring semesters).
All housing charges are billed to the student's account.
For payment methods and deadlines, contact your university counselor or student services counselor.
All rates include rent, water, electricity and internet. Rates above DO NOT include tax.
Multiple meal plans are offered at GCU to help meet the varying budget and lifestyle needs for students. The meal plan rates listed below can help you calculate and prepare for costs.
Meal plans are part of the cost of attendance in your program. To find out more details, visit our Cost of Attendance page.1
Meal plans for 2025-26 are Dining Dollars only; all housed students are required to choose a meal plan.
Meal plans for 2024-25 are Dining Dollars only; all housed students are required to choose a meal plan.
Fees subject to change.
Find answers to commonly asked questions regarding housing, apartment and meal plan rates to help make choices best for your budget and lifestyle when attending GCU.
When deciding which residence hall or apartment to register for, consider how many occupants—or roommates—you would prefer. An occupant refers to a student who will be living in a given space. In a single occupancy room (apartment), a student does not share a bedroom. Most apartments have four bedrooms per suite. Residence halls are set up with double or triple occupancy bedrooms. In a double occupancy room, a student will share a bedroom with one direct roommate. In a triple occupancy room, a student will share a bedroom with two direct roommates. Most residence hall suites have two bedrooms per suite.
GCU provides flexible options for choosing your meal plan to accommodate different types of students and their meal preferences. All meal plans provide students with a specified amount of Dining Dollars to spend at dining locations on campus. Commuter students can also enroll for a meal plan to meet their needs.
Dining Dollars come with a GCU meal plan and can be used at any dining location. These dollars do not expire and can be used throughout your time at GCU until you graduate.
It can be helpful to make a list of features that you are looking for in a dorm room, such as air conditioning, closet space, specific furniture items or a loft bed. It’s also important to decide which layout or suite style you are looking for. Take into consideration the social aspect of the dorm community as well. You can then use this list to narrow down your dorm options on campus.
If you are an out-of-state student, you would need to provide proof of residence in Arizona for one year to be able to be classified as an Arizona resident. There are certain exceptions to this, such as if the student has a parent who is an Arizona resident.3
College meal plans can offer you a variety of food options that may be new and out of your ordinary diet routine. It can be important to establish a schedule of meals and snacks and seek out healthy dining options available at your university. Familiarize yourself with your dining options and what they offer. Look for a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, healthy fats and low-fat dairy options.
Depending on the apartment floor plan you choose, your apartment may come with different amenities. Floor plans may include any of the following: a full kitchen, living room, breakout rooms, laundry facility on every floor, open community lobby, outdoor courtyard, desk, extra-long twin bed and mattress.
GCU offers a wide variety of cafes and restaurant dining options on campus, from salads and flatbreads to pizza to tacos and Mexican-style cuisine. To view a full list of on-campus food options, visit our campus dining page.
1 Niche.com. (2025). 2025 Best College Dorms in America. Retrieved Nov. 13, 2024.
2 The cost of attending the university can extend beyond tuition fees and may include various additional expenses, such as fees paid directly to the institution and other indirect costs. GCU can provide the cost of attendance, which is an aggregate of estimated expenses a student may encounter during an academic year (fall/spring) for each program of study. Refer to our Cost of Attendance page for further details and clarification.
3 Arizona Legislature. (n.d.). 15-1802. In-state Student Status. Retrieved Aug. 18, 2023.
