Navigating Grand Canyon University Scholarships: Requirements and Opportunities

Grand Canyon University (GCU) offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to help students finance their education. Understanding the requirements and options available can significantly reduce the cost of attending this private, Christian university. This article explores the various scholarships and grants offered by GCU, eligibility criteria, and additional financing options.

Scholarship Opportunities at GCU

GCU provides numerous scholarship opportunities for both traditional campus students and online students. In 2024, traditional campus students received over $196 million in institutional scholarships, while online students received nearly $140 million in scholarships in 2023. Let's delve into the specifics of these opportunities.

High School Student Scholarships

These scholarships are exclusively for students planning to attend classes on GCU's main campus as traditional, undergraduate students directly after graduating from high school. To qualify, students must:

Complete and submit an application.
Submit transcripts showing six semesters or more with a cumulative, weighted or unweighted GPA, or submit SAT (math and reading scores only) and/or ACT scores.
Submit final transcripts by day 21 of the semester, including a graduation date for final awards.
Attend classes on GCU's main campus as a traditional, undergraduate student.

The Grand Canyon University Faculty Scholarship falls under this category and is available to students with a 3.0-3.29 GPA, or a 19 ACT, or a 1000 SAT. If a student is admitted based on ACT or SAT, the student needs a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 2.5 to be awarded.

Campus Scholarships and Awards

Campus scholarships are available for traditional, undergraduate students who take courses on the main campus. To learn more about eligibility for these scholarships, students can speak with a university counselor.

Read also: Camp Scholarships Guide

On average, traditional campus students in 2024-25 qualified for approximately $7,300 in GCU-funded scholarships for the academic year, which reduced tuition by almost half to approximately $9,100. GCU has kept its campus tuition at the same rate for 16 years, holding rates steady since 2009, demonstrating a commitment to affordable education.

To secure a scholarship offer and admission decision for a future semester, GCU offers a Registration Commitment. This option is available to incoming students, including those taking a gap year, those currently enrolled at another school, or those planning to attend another school prior to attending GCU. Benefits include locking in GCU’s scholarship offer, course advisement to maximize transferability of credits, and invitations to exclusive GCU events.

Online and Evening Scholarships

A variety of online scholarships are available for students earning their degree through GCU’s online or evening courses. GCU has also developed relationships with hundreds of employers and organizations across the nation, providing scholarships to eligible participants interested in pursuing a degree, certificate, or taking a single course.

Several Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) based scholarships are available for specific programs and student demographics. For instance:

MOU 9238: This scholarship is valid for applicants currently working for an accredited school or district, seeking initial teacher licensure, not already a licensed teacher, and applying for specific bachelor's programs in education. It cannot be used with other GCU scholarships and is applied toward tuition only.
MOU 9237: Similar to MOU 9238, this scholarship is for applicants working in accredited schools or districts, seeking initial teacher licensure, and applying for specific Master of Education programs.
MOU 10141: This scholarship is valid for admissible new students participating in a GCU evening-campus program, offering 20% off the tuition per course. It cannot be used with other GCU scholarships and does not include fees.
MOU 10134 & 10135: This scholarship provides 18% off tuition per course for students enrolled in a College of Education or secondary education emphasis master’s degree program offered online.
MOU-Alumni 2000 Doctoral-Feb2026: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is valid for applicants beginning a Doctoral program in February 2026 and applies only to online and evening programs.
MOU 10324: This scholarship is valid for new student applicants starting an online or evening Bachelor of Science in Psychology or Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science, offering 32% off tuition per course.

External Scholarship Opportunities

GCU also posts outside scholarship opportunities to help students supplement their education. These scholarships may be combined with GCU scholarships to cover tuition and other expenses.

Read also: Benefits of NSHSS Scholarships

Grants: State and Federal

Grants are financial aid awards that do not require repayment, making them a valuable resource for potentially reducing educational costs. They may be ideal for first-time students, returning learners, and those pursuing advanced degrees. By understanding the various types of grants for college and their eligibility criteria, students have the opportunity to secure vital funding to help achieve their academic goals.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) allows students to apply for government grants and loans. Students may qualify for awards based on their family’s financial situation.

Additional Financing Options

Student Loans

Student loans can help supplement scholarships and grants so students can pay for their college education. It is important to learn more about types of loans and repayment expectations.

Dual Enrollment

If you are a high school student, dual enrollment courses offer the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school. These courses are four credits and cost $210 per course ($52.50 per credit) plus a $105 digital course materials fee per course. Additional textbook fees may apply. Students are not eligible for Federal Student Aid while enrolled in high school.

Military Benefits

If you are currently serving in the military, GCU offers a special military rate per credit hour to you and your eligible spouse for online and evening programs. GCU also offers a special online and evening program scholarship to all veterans and their spouses, and employees of the DOD, DPHS, and NOAA. GCU is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Read also: Scholarship Guide

Earn to Learn Program

GCU partners with Earn to Learn, a program that empowers students to achieve their goals and be workforce ready with little to no student debt. To be eligible, students must:

Qualify as Pell Grant eligible students and maintain Pell Grant eligibility throughout the duration of their participation in the ETL scholarship program.
Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student attending the Traditional campus in an undergraduate program.

The Matched Savings Account process is guided by the Earn to Learn Team, and the $250 in savings is not due at the time of enrolling with ETL.

Planned Giving and Endowments through the LEO Foundation

Commemorating a special person with a gift to the LEO Foundation can be a lasting tribute and provides valuable support to students. A gift “in memory of” someone is the term used when the namesake is deceased. Donors may designate the placement of their gift and choose to donate to a program that is important to them or the gift’s namesake. Creating a scholarship in someone’s name is also an option.

Endowed funds differ from others in that the total amount of the gift is invested. Only a portion of the income earned is spent each year, while the remainder is added to the principal for growth, making it a perpetual gift. LEO Foundation endowments begin at $25,000, funded fully at its initiation or made as a pledge, payable over up to three years. Pledges can be arranged monthly, quarterly, or annually. Secure online gifts or pledges can be made to the LEO Foundation.

Many companies offer matching gift programs, where they match employee, retiree, and family contributions to educational institutions, doubling or sometimes tripling the amount of the gift. Matching gift forms can usually be obtained through the employer’s human resources department.

Planned giving or estate gifts allow individuals to make a meaningful contribution to the LEO Foundation to prepare students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Real estate can be donated as a direct gift, with the donor being eligible for a real estate donation tax deduction equal to the fair market share of the property, carried forward for five years.

Donations can be applied to various fields of study, including Academic, Athletic, Business, Christian Studies/Theology, Fine Arts, Nursing, STEM, and Youth Development Programs.

Setting Up a Scholarship

Setting up a scholarship with the LEO Foundation is straightforward. Various scholarship applications are available, including:

LEO Foundation Scholarship Application
Tim Browning Memorial Scholarship Application
GCU Guild Continuing Student Scholarship Application
Richard McCurdy Club Sports Golf Scholarship Application
LEO Foundation Entrepreneurial Scholarship Application
Leo Foundation Christian Studies Scholarship Application
SKW Play It Forward Music Scholarship Application
LaVern “Sharky” and Leona Baker Educational Scholarship Application
Foundation Theatre Scholarship Application
Foster Youth Scholarship Application
Joyce K. Smith Nursing Memorial Scholarship Application
BHHS Legacy Nursing & Health Related Scholarship Application
Tiffany D. Mealman Women Excellence in Chemistry & Christian Character Scholarship Application

These applications typically require personal details, GPA, a list of honors and awards, financial aid received, career plans, hours worked per week, church/religious affiliation, a personal statement, college/university activities, and activities outside of college/university life.

Understanding Costs and Financial Aid

Cost of Attendance

The cost of university attendance extends beyond tuition fees, encompassing various direct payments to the institution and additional indirect expenses. GCU offers a comprehensive cost of attendance, aggregating estimated expenses students may encounter during an academic year (Fall/Spring) for each program of study.

Tuition and Financing FAQs

GCU provides a list of frequently asked questions about tuition and financing to help students find the answers they need, such as the difference between a loan and a grant, the cost of attending GCU, and whether GCU accepts FAFSA information.

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