Understanding the Costs of Doctoral Programs at Grand Canyon University

Choosing the right doctoral program is a significant decision, and understanding the financial implications is crucial. Grand Canyon University (GCU) offers a variety of doctoral programs, but prospective students should carefully consider all associated costs. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the expenses involved in pursuing a doctoral degree at GCU, addressing tuition, fees, financial aid, and potential hidden costs.

Overview of Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University (GCU), located in Phoenix, Arizona, provides a wide array of online degree programs. These include bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. GCU emphasizes flexibility and convenience for online learners, integrating a faith-based approach into its curriculum. Popular programs span fields like business administration, education, psychology, and healthcare. The university fosters a collaborative digital environment, enabling students to interact with peers and faculty through discussion forums, video lectures, and interactive projects. GCU also provides scholarships, military discounts, and federal financial aid options.

Tuition and Fees

The cost of tuition is a primary consideration for prospective doctoral students. GCU's online and evening tuition rates vary depending on the program of study. While the university has kept its campus tuition relatively stable since 2009, online programs have different rates per credit hour that vary between undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. A special rate is available for active duty military personnel and active reservists.

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance (COA) encompasses expenses beyond tuition and fees. It provides an average of estimated expenses a student could incur during an academic year. Your academic year is determined by your modality (campus or online) and your program of study.

Your costs will include "direct" educational expenses that are paid to the university - those related directly to your program of study - such as tuition and fees. Students who live on campus will also pay for food, housing and other on-campus related expenses directly to the university. Students who live off campus or live with their parents will incur similar living expenses; they are not paid to the university. Other costs are regular living expenses, not related directly to attending the university.

Students should take into consideration all other discretionary costs not directly related to attending school, but incurred during the academic year, such as transportation costs, personal expenses and credentialing fees if you are seeking licensure, certification or accreditation.

GCU's Office of Financial Aid uses the estimated costs below to determine the maximum amount of financial aid you are eligible for each academic year. Prospective students can contact a university counselor for an individualized estimate.

Financial Aid Options

GCU offers various financial aid options to help students manage the cost of their education. These include:

Scholarships: GCU provides various scholarship opportunities for both traditional campus students and non-traditional students. Traditional campus students in 2024-25 qualified for approximately $7,300 in GCU-funded scholarships for the academic year, reducing tuition by almost half to approximately $9,100. Explore GCU campus and outside scholarships to find out what you may qualify for. There are also specific scholarships like the Evening-Campus New Student Scholarship, Education Master’s Degree Scholarship, Alumni Doctoral Degree Scholarship, and New Undergraduate Psychology or Behavioral Health Student Scholarship.
Grants: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) allows you to apply for government grants. Eligibility for these awards is based on your family’s financial situation.

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Student Loans: Student loans can supplement scholarships and grants to help cover the cost of education. It’s important to understand the different types of loans and repayment expectations.
Military Benefits: GCU offers a special military rate per credit hour to active duty military personnel and their eligible spouses for online and evening programs. A special online and evening program scholarship is also available to all veterans and their spouses, and employees of the DOD, DPHS, and NOAA. GCU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Hidden Costs and Additional Expenses

Beyond tuition and fees, doctoral students may encounter several additional expenses that can significantly impact the overall cost of their degree. These include:

Books and Supplies: The cost of textbooks and other course materials can add up quickly, especially in specialized fields of study.
Technology Fees: Online programs may require specific technology or software, leading to additional expenses.
Transportation: While online students may not need to commute to campus, they may still incur transportation costs for occasional meetings or events.
Personal Expenses: Students should budget for personal expenses such as food, housing, and healthcare.
Credentialing Fees: Students seeking licensure, certification, or accreditation should account for these fees.

Research Continuation Courses

Several doctoral programs at GCU, such as the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, PhD in General Psychology, EdD in Teaching and Learning, EdD in Organizational Leadership, Doctor of Business Administration, and Doctor of Health Administration, require completion of a minimum number of credits. Students who have not received final approval of their dissertation at the completion of those credits must enroll in Research Continuation courses until they have completed an approved dissertation. These courses are three-credit courses, charged at the same per-credit tuition rate as all other doctoral courses, and can significantly add to the overall cost and time to complete the program.

For example, data from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024, reveals that graduates from dissertation-based doctoral programs at GCU took an average of 6.2 years to complete all program requirements and required an average of 11.2 Research Continuation courses to complete their dissertation. These graduates paid an average of $52,855 in tuition and fees, including continuation courses, over the duration of their program.

Read also: Financial Aid at GCU

Department of Education Findings

The Department of Education (DOE) has raised concerns about GCU's doctoral program costs. According to the DOE’s investigation, the vast majority of GCU doctoral students overpaid between $10,000 and $12,000 for their degrees when compared to the cost prominently advertised by GCU. The DOE found that the for-profit school misled as many as 98% of its doctoral students about the true number of credit hours and cost of earning a doctorate degree at GCU. The DOE recently fined GCU more than $37 million for its fraudulent practices.

The DOE pointed out that GCU would have been aware of the inaccuracy of its claims because it is nearly impossible for most doctoral students to complete their dissertations without additional continuation courses, which add a significant financial burden that students are compelled to bear. Substantial internal data from GCU backs this assertion in the economists’ analysis.

In meetings with enrollment counselors, prospective students were presented with a “Net Price Calculator” that inaccurately represented the number of credits and the cost required to earn their doctorate degree, a move seemingly designed to induce enrollment. About 34% of the continuation credits offered no credit hours towards the degree, meaning they did not qualify for federal aid and thus had to be financed out-of-pocket or through private loans by the students.

Specific Doctoral Programs and Their Costs

To provide a clearer picture of the costs associated with specific doctoral programs at GCU, let's examine a few examples:

PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision

This program requires a minimum of 65 credits, which typically takes at least 45 months to complete. Students who require Research Continuation courses will incur additional costs. Data indicates that students completing any GCU dissertation-based doctoral program between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024, took an average of 6.2 years and required 11.2 Research Continuation courses, paying an average of $52,855 in tuition and fees, including continuation courses.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Bridge: The program offers both qualitative and quantitative research focuses, influencing the research methods and data collection techniques used.
Bridge Program: A bridge program is available for master’s or entry-level mental health professionals to advance their counseling skills and prepare for the PhD program.

PhD in General Psychology

This program requires a minimum of 60 credits and typically takes at least 39 months. As with other doctoral programs, Research Continuation courses may be necessary, adding to the overall cost. Between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024, graduates of this program took an average of six years to complete all program requirements, requiring an average of 10.2 Research Continuation courses and paying an average of $51,836 in tuition and fees, including continuation courses.

EdD in Teaching and Learning

The EdD in Teaching and Learning requires a minimum of 60 credits and typically takes at least 39 months. Students may need to enroll in Research Continuation courses, which will increase the total cost. From January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024, graduates of this program took an average of 4.5 years to complete all program requirements, requiring an average of 4.5 Research Continuation courses and paying an average of $48,670 in tuition and fees, including continuation courses.

EdD in Organizational Leadership

This program also requires a minimum of 60 credits and typically takes at least 39 months. Research Continuation courses may be necessary, adding to the overall cost. Data from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024, shows that graduates took an average of 6.5 years to complete all program requirements, requiring an average of 12.4 Research Continuation courses and paying an average of $53,796 in tuition and fees, including continuation courses.

Doctor of Business Administration

The Doctor of Business Administration program requires a minimum of 60 credits and typically takes at least 39 months. The need for Research Continuation courses can increase the overall cost. Between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024, graduates of this program took an average of six years to complete all program requirements, requiring an average of 10.3 Research Continuation courses and paying an average of $53,160 in tuition and fees, including continuation courses.

Doctor of Health Administration

This program requires a minimum of 60 credits, which will take a minimum of 39 months. Students who have not received final approval of a dissertation at the completion of those credits must enroll in Research Continuation courses until they have completed an approved dissertation. Research Continuation courses are three-credit courses, charged at the same per-credit tuition rate as all other doctoral courses. Research Continuation courses, if necessary, will add to the cost and time to complete this program. Over that time, 2,341 students took an average of 6.2 years to complete all program requirements and required on average 11.2 Research Continuation courses to complete their dissertation. These program graduates paid an average of $52,855 in tuition and fees, including continuation courses, over the duration of their program.

Additional Online and Evening Tuition Resources

GCU provides several resources to help students understand the cost of their education:

Cost of Attendance Page: This page provides a detailed breakdown of educational expenses, including direct payments to the institution and indirect costs.
Tuition and Financial Aid Information: General information related to tuition, fees, and financial aid can be found online.
Financial Aid Counseling: Students can connect with a university counselor for an individualized cost estimate and financial aid guidance.
Financial Literacy Program: GCU offers a no-cost Financial Literacy Program to prospective and continuing students and their families.

Maximizing FAFSA Benefits for Online Education

To maximize FAFSA benefits for online education at GCU, students should:

Complete the FAFSA Early: Submit the FAFSA as soon as it becomes available to ensure consideration for all available aid.
Accurate Information: Provide accurate and complete information on the FAFSA to avoid delays or errors in processing.
Understand Eligibility: Familiarize yourself with the eligibility requirements for federal student aid programs.
Contact Financial Aid Office: Reach out to GCU's Office of Financial Aid for assistance with the FAFSA process and to explore additional financial aid options.

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