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History of GCU
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Overview

The Beginning as Grand Canyon College

Grand Canyon College was chartered on Aug. 1, 1949, with 16 faculty and approximately 100 students in Prescott, Arizona. In 1951, the college relocated to a 90-acre tract in West Phoenix and earned accreditation in 1968 from the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Established as a Baptist-affiliated institution with an emphasis on religious studies, the school initially offered bachelor’s programs in education.

Over time, programs expanded to include the sciences, nursing, business, music and fine arts, redefining learning for students across disciplines. During this era, GCU began to develop a reputation for producing effective teachers, nurses and healthcare professionals in the Southwest, empowering the next generation through a Christ-centered approach and a commitment to purpose-driven education.

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campus changes construction.
Nonprofit

Returning to Historical Roots

In 2018, Grand Canyon University formally returned to its historical roots as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt Arizona nonprofit institution. That transition — fully approved and/or recognized by the IRS, State of Arizona, Higher Learning Commission, Arizona Private Postsecondary Education Board and NCAA Athletics — provided the legal authority to operate as an Arizona nonprofit and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt institution of higher education, which the university has held for most of its existence.

The IRS subsequently conducted a four-year examination of the university, which is routine for entities that have changed status, and in May 2025 reaffirmed its initial determination that GCU meets all requirements of a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt Arizona nonprofit institution.

Nonprofit Status Affirmed by the U.S. Department of Education

In December 2025, Grand Canyon University achieved another significant milestone when the U.S. Department of Education (ED) officially recognized GCU as a nonprofit institution of higher education. This action aligned ED’s classification with every other governmental, accrediting and athletic authority that has recognized GCU’s nonprofit status since 2018.

The Department’s recognition followed a unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in November 2024, which held that ED applied an incorrect legal standard in 2019 when it refused to recognize GCU’s nonprofit designation for federal funding purposes.

This affirmation reinforces what has long been true: Grand Canyon University operates as a mission-driven nonprofit committed to affordability, academic excellence and faith in action. It reflects GCU’s enduring commitment to preparing students to lead and serve with purpose, integrity and compassion.

Aerial view of campus construction showing newly built multi‑story residence halls surrounded by roads and development.

What This Means for Students

GCU sought to regain its nonprofit status to ensure the long-term legacy of the institution and ensure equitable opportunities to:

  • Participate fully in academic and co-curricular opportunities alongside peer nonprofit institutions
  • Expand opportunities to operate a philanthropic foundation
  • Provide grant writing, research and scholarship opportunities for faculty and students open only to nonprofits
  • Ensure student-athletes may fully participate in NCAA governance opportunities
Aerial view of Prescott Field on the GCU campus, showing students spread across the large green field with campus buildings and palm trees in the background.
Transformation

University Transformation and Investment

The university grew its campus student body from fewer than 1,000 students in 2009 to over 24,671 campus students in 2025. GCU’s non-traditional student body increased from approximately 22,000 students at the start of 2009 to over 107,815 online students in Fall 2025.

In Fall 2025, GCU had over 90,200 bachelor-level students, over 37,900 master-level students and over 4,300 doctoral-level students.(See disclaimer 1)

Between 2009 and 2024, the university invested over $1.9 billion dollars — and today, continues to invest in full-time faculty, improved technology infrastructure, new facilities and programmatic expansion in areas such as engineering, computer science and IT. This transformation reflects GCU’s role as a disruptive catalyst, revolutionizing academia by merging faith and technology, tradition and future, legacy and possibility. The university has been able to self-fund these investments with only nominal increases in tuition for non-traditional students, while not increasing campus tuition in 17 years.

aerial photo of gcu field.

University Development

GCU's campus continues to grow to meet the needs of students and cultivate higher education learning experiences, where classrooms are incubators for bold ideas. Every space is designed to foster collaboration, innovation and transformative education, making our campus a true home away from home for our Lopes who are building the future.

Here's a snapshot of what students enjoy on campus today:

Community

Community Transformation 

West Phoenix is where GCU calls home, and with that comes a deep commitment to glorify God by creating lasting impact in the surrounding neighborhoods. GCU strives to make this area a safe and thriving place for families and individuals through initiatives that open educational opportunities for all, create jobs, restore housing and reduce crime. This initiative is called United by Purpose, and it reflects GCU’s belief that higher education should extend beyond campus walls to bring hope and renewal to the community.

One example of this transformative work is the development project at 27th Avenue and Camelback Road — designed as a gateway into West Phoenix and a hub for community transformation.

This development features:

  • A four-story office complex
  • The renovated GCU Hotel with a resort-style pool(See disclaimer 2)
  • Cañón 49 restaurant and Grand Canyon Beverage Co. coffee shop
  • A business, economic and education innovation center

Campus Enterprises

This development was only the beginning of reshaping West Phoenix into a destination for economic, tourism, business, employment and educational growth. With support from Grand Canyon Education (GCE), the university has launched 10 business enterprises that employ nearly 500 people, creating real opportunity for the community.

At GCU, our strength lies in being agile, entrepreneurial and forward-thinking, and these ventures reflect that commitment. A tremendous transformation is underway, and the future looks even brighter as we continue to innovate and expand initiatives that benefit both students and the surrounding neighborhoods.

These enterprises include:

Havoc House

Grand Canyon Beverage Company (four locations)

Lope Shops

GCU Golf Course

Canyon Promotions

Cañón 49

Grand Canyon University Hotel(See disclaimer 2)

Interior of Canyon 49 Grill on the GCU campus, featuring dining tables, a lit bar area, and signage welcoming guests.
  1. Includes all traditional students who have a last date of attendance at least three weeks into the Fall 2025 semester, students who participated in a campus evening class in August or September of 2025 and students who have participated in an online class in August or September 2025.
  2. Operated by GCE for GCU Discover events.
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