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Compare University of Arizona vs Grand Canyon University

Tucson, AZ · Phoenix, AZ

University of ArizonaGrand Canyon University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$16,674/yr$22,472/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$13,353/yr$18,557/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$19,620$22,114
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$14,984/yr$18,763/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$16,051/yr$21,712/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$19,777/yr$24,471/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$22,307/yr$25,701/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$208/mo$234/mo
Room & board (on campus)$16,746/yr$11,700/yr
Room & board (off campus)$12,450/yr$13,644/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$600/yr$1,000/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$4,450/yr$3,124/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$29,423/yr$32,702/yr
Tuition (in-state)$13,926/yr$17,850/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$42,278/yr$17,850/yr
Students with Pell Grants26%46%
Students taking federal loans26%53%
Getting in
Students who get accepted86%79%
SAT range (middle 50%)1150–14201006–1113
SAT average12461077
ACT range (middle 50%)21–2920–22
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 20–30 · Math 19–28English 18–22 · Math 17–22
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received56,46647,978
Students accepted48,36928,960
Students who enrolled9,1588,420
Accepted students who enroll19%29%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores13%0%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores22%0%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Recommendation lettersNot consideredNot considered
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate68%43%
Freshmen who come back83%72%
Typical earnings 10 years in$59,979/yr$42,186/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$38,990–$92,199$21,881–$68,589
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)63%44%
White students graduating70%48%
Black students graduating43%36%
Hispanic students graduating64%39%
Asian students graduating76%43%
Typical earnings 6 years in$47,665/yr$47,280/yr
Earn more than a HS grad78%79%
Graduate on time50%37%
Pell students who graduate60%33%
First-gen students who finish54%40%
Low-income students who finish54%27%
Students who transfer out17%No data reported
Typical earnings 8 years in$55,966/yr$44,013/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 16% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10% · Health Professions 9%Health Professions 33% · Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Public Administration & Social Service 15%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 16% of degreesHealth Professions — 33% of degrees
2nd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees
3rd most popular programHealth Professions — 9% of degreesPublic Administration & Social Service — 15% of degrees
4th most popular programPsychology — 8% of degreesEducation — 11% of degrees
5th most popular programEngineering — 6% of degreesHomeland Security & Protective Services — 3% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Business Administration, Management and Operations — $115,462/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $132,852/yr
Degrees in STEM24%6.2%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment42,53773,371
Students per professor20 : 120 : 1
Graduate students11,51737,321
Average professor pay$12,347/mo$7,563/mo
Full-time professors77%10%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$43,043$29,879
SettingCity (large)City (large)
LocationTucson, AZPhoenix, AZ
RegionSouthwestSouthwest
Founded18851949
Public or privatePublicPrivate (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: Very High Research ActivityDoctoral/Professional Universities
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students3.9%0.9%
Men44%29%
Women56%71%
White students46%46%
Black students4.4%17%
Hispanic or Latino students28%25%
Asian students4.7%2.8%
Two or more races5.3%5%
Other / not reported7.6%3.7%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students31%47%
Part-time students17%66%
Students age 25+14%52%
Spent on teaching per student$15,271/yr$2,400/yr
Endowment$1.4BNo data reported
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing7,61918,485
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$8,900/yr$6,000/yr
Meal plan charge$5,500/yr$3,900/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationLand-grant institutionNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air ForceYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesYesYes
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesNo
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionYesNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FBSNCAA Division I without football
Football teamYesNo
Varsity teams1817
Student athletes501441
Athletic scholarships$12.8M$5.7M
Athletics budget$132.7M$33.3M
Athletics revenue$132.7M$33.3M
Recruiting spend$3.4M$723,085

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.