College ROI

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Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ 73,371 Undergrads 45.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$32,702
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,472
After Aid
Median Earnings
$74,343
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,472
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$74,343
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+76%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$42,186
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate45.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age31.0
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients45.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time34.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
78.9%
SAT Avg
1,077
SAT Reading
25th: 518-75th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 488-75th: 533
ACT Composite
25th: 20-75th: 22

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$647k
+$180k
+$163k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$566k
+$99k
+$82k
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$529k
+$62k
+$45k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
39
101%
Full Cost$33k/yr
46
38%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return167%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-8%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,067
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,082
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,821
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,433
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,999
Earnings (4yr)
$65,828
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,271
Earnings (4yr)
$79,175
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,622
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
$36,645
Earnings (4yr)
$46,973
Natl Median: $51,936
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$85,864
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,308
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Median Debt
$26,599
Earnings (4yr)
$55,600
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$37,142
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
Median Debt
$28,831
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,783
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
$27,068
Earnings (4yr)
$43,469
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,124
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Median Debt
$32,250
Earnings (4yr)
$60,328
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$27,188
Earnings (4yr)
$54,209
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$25,616
Earnings (4yr)
$84,553
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Median Debt
$23,181
Earnings (4yr)
$49,703
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
$26,963
Earnings (4yr)
$48,766
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Literature
BachCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,986
Natl Median: $46,173
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Median Debt
$21,516
Earnings (4yr)
$81,661
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,987
Earnings (4yr)
$60,303
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$86,834
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Median Debt
$31,432
Earnings (4yr)
$51,490
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,851
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$273k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,900
Earnings (4yr)
$56,495
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,956
Earnings (4yr)
$44,335
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
$17,188
Earnings (4yr)
$103,884
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Religious Education
BachCIP: 3904
Median Debt
$30,731
Earnings (4yr)
$45,165
Natl Median: $43,633
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,281
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,384
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$28,245
Earnings (4yr)
$53,716
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,594
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Median Debt
$40,811
Earnings (4yr)
$50,892
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,597
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
$30,921
Earnings (4yr)
$49,531
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$49,950
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
$26,465
Earnings (4yr)
$42,219
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$25,707
Earnings (4yr)
$86,862
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,088
Natl Median: $56,028
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
$33,911
Earnings (4yr)
$89,393
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Median Debt
$31,340
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,869
Earnings (4yr)
$107,641
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Median Debt
$30,887
Earnings (4yr)
$93,798
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
$34,588
Earnings (4yr)
$61,712
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,811
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$18,920
Earnings (4yr)
$78,699
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Median Debt
$26,235
Earnings (4yr)
$73,501
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
$22,495
Earnings (4yr)
$75,799
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
$37,518
Earnings (4yr)
$78,310
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$33,916
Earnings (4yr)
$61,699
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,045
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Psychology, Other
MastCIP: 4299
Median Debt
$30,180
Earnings (4yr)
$59,759
Natl Median: $61,796
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Median Debt
$33,315
Earnings (4yr)
$76,752
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$45,080
Earnings (4yr)
$68,242
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$32,443
Earnings (4yr)
$123,688
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$405k
Religious Education
MastCIP: 3904
Median Debt
$32,954
Earnings (4yr)
$52,623
Natl Median: $54,328
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Median Debt
$31,690
Earnings (4yr)
$60,336
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Median Debt
$31,340
Earnings (4yr)
$56,764
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Median Debt
$21,180
Earnings (4yr)
$63,874
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Median Debt
$20,791
Earnings (4yr)
$69,839
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,888
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$61,768
Earnings (4yr)
$61,780
Natl Median: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Psychology, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 4299
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,601
Natl Median: $62,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
$30,520
Earnings (4yr)
$140,016
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$678k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,245
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$77,896
Earnings (4yr)
$91,300
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
$65,634
Earnings (4yr)
$94,079
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
$43,000
Earnings (4yr)
$150,205
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$384k
Median Debt
$76,805
Earnings (4yr)
$67,876
Natl Median: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
-$226k

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
$57,618
Earnings (4yr)
$46,690
Natl Median: $63,395
Lifetime Value Added
-$393k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,896
Natl Median: $73,933
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,103
Natl Median: $62,426
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,038
Natl Median: $75,268
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,075
Natl Median: $73,949
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$105,793
Natl Median: $99,128
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.