Back to Colleges
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ 68,619 Undergrads 46.7% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$31,493
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,931
After Aid
Median Earnings
$42,186
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$21,931
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$42,186
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate46.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time36.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
60.4%
SAT Avg
1,095
SAT Reading
25th: 540-75th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 518-75th: 555
ACT Composite
25th: 19-75th: 24
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$373k
-$23k
-$111k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$294k
-$102k
-$190k
Full Cost$31k/yr
+$260k
-$136k
-$224k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-241%
Full Cost$31k/yr
Never
-198%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-251%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-115%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,380
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,825
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,483
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,999
Earnings (5yr)
$63,757
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$23,271
Earnings (5yr)
$73,611
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,969
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Community Organization and Advocacy
BachCIP: 4402
Median Debt
$36,645
Earnings (5yr)
$41,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$26,599
Earnings (5yr)
$53,284
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (5yr)
$30,913
Lifetime Value Added
-$279k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,020
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$27,068
Earnings (5yr)
$47,224
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$32,250
Earnings (5yr)
$57,092
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,452
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,188
Earnings (5yr)
$48,017
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$25,616
Earnings (5yr)
$79,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$26,963
Earnings (5yr)
$45,006
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,025
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,987
Earnings (5yr)
$53,426
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$31,432
Earnings (5yr)
$47,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,851
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$17,188
Earnings (5yr)
$100,075
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Religious Education
BachCIP: 3904
Median Debt
$30,731
Earnings (5yr)
$42,169
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Security Science and Technology
BachCIP: 4304
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$28,245
Earnings (5yr)
$44,317
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,594
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$40,811
Earnings (5yr)
$46,426
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$30,921
Earnings (5yr)
$44,724
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$49,950
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$26,465
Earnings (5yr)
$43,593
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,707
Earnings (5yr)
$80,687
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$33,911
Earnings (5yr)
$86,286
Lifetime Value Added
+$281k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$30,869
Earnings (5yr)
$111,328
Lifetime Value Added
+$496k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$34,588
Earnings (5yr)
$52,250
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,327
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$18,920
Earnings (5yr)
$77,342
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$26,235
Earnings (5yr)
$70,614
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$37,518
Earnings (5yr)
$77,763
Lifetime Value Added
+$208k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,533
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Psychology, Other
MastCIP: 4299
Median Debt
$30,180
Earnings (5yr)
$57,232
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$33,315
Earnings (5yr)
$71,360
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$45,080
Earnings (5yr)
$70,527
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$32,443
Earnings (5yr)
$118,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$555k
Religion/Religious Studies
MastCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$18,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$347k
Religious Education
MastCIP: 3904
Median Debt
$32,954
Earnings (5yr)
$50,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$31,690
Earnings (5yr)
$57,016
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$31,340
Earnings (5yr)
$52,990
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$21,180
Earnings (5yr)
$64,519
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
$20,791
Earnings (5yr)
$68,341
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Graduate Certificates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$30,520
Earnings (5yr)
$133,794
Lifetime Value Added
+$812k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$77,896
Earnings (5yr)
$82,859
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$65,634
Earnings (2yr)
$79,450
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$43,000
Earnings (5yr)
$141,899
Lifetime Value Added
+$520k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
DocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$76,805
Earnings (5yr)
$68,869
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.