Grand Canyon University Reviews
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678 Reviews - Phoenix (AZ)
- Annual Tuition: $17,800
57% of 678 students said this degree improved their career prospects
49% of 678 students said they would recommend this school to others
Programs with 5+ Reviews
Student Reviews
CG
- Reviewed: 10/27/2023
- Degree: Business Administration
- Graduation Year: 2027
"Honestly, just run far away from this school and anything they “have to offer”. First, the student service counselors are deceiving. This is obviously a for-profit college that wants to belittle their students and strip them of all of their money. You will be harassed to no end after being blatantly deceived. Second, the courses are hysterical and not even remotely related to your degree. You spend so much time on these course and waste a year away. Doing online college shouldn't even take 4 years, because you don’t even get the same “breaks” as on campus students. They trick the system, trick financial aid, and leverage any kind of money they earn over your head. Avoid GCU at all costs."
SC Teacher
- Reviewed: 10/25/2023
- Degree: Education Administration
- Graduation Year: 2023
"GCU came along at the right time for me. I returned to education after a 20 year stint in the Auction Industry. The classes allowed for me to continue my coaching career while working toward my masters. The instructors for the most part were willing to work with me in order to stay caught up with the assignments. It does get tedious at times but all things do. If you are serious and meet the deadlines you will have no issues. I believe most of the people who complain probably are not staying up to date on the work or feel that the work is not worthy of their time. I am glad I finished and would not have been able to get my masters if it had not been for GCU. Go Lopes!"
Benjamin75
- Reviewed: 10/22/2023
- Degree: Psychology
- Graduation Year: 2022
"Attending this University was a negative experience. The student service office is lazy, dishonest, and disrespects the student. Some teachers know the problems in the unsupportive administration of this center, which is a joke, and they take advantage by disrespecting the students, etc."
Shawn H
- Reviewed: 9/30/2023
- Degree: Nursing
- Graduation Year: 2023
"I am currently in the last class of my degree however, due to the counselors disorganization I am unable to continue. I am on hold for 3 months now and unable to finish my degree. I would not recommend this school at all. Overall, I have had a poor experience. This is my second degree and 4th college attending in my life and so far it is the worst experience I have had. The office of field experience is horrible and I have had 3 different counselors working on my field experience. Every time they call they have no clue what is going on."
SH
- Reviewed: 9/27/2023
- Degree: Nursing
- Graduation Year: 2023
"Things you should know: -I was lied to, mislead and miscommunicated to multiple times about the ABSN program. -They are very disorganized, I had multiple advisors (4 in a year) because my advisors kept quiting, and the new adivsor would be confused and unable to answer my questions, frequently misrepresenting information and sending me to the wrong place, even for small things like technical support. -This school is very expensive, and advisors will suggest that you take out student loans + extra so you can "afford" not to work. For me, advisors suggested I take out 75K in student loans to complete a 1.5 year program. Specifically about ABSN: -The semesters are structured at a truly paced at break neck speeds. The first nursing school semester is 19 credit hours + clinicals. I was told when I was entering it would "not be possible to work" - Keep that in mind if you chose this program. -You cannot take part time or reduced hours whatsoever. -All the semesters were 17+ credit hours + clinical experiences, with no way to change this. -You cannot transfer from the ABSN to the regular BSN program if you decide a class or schedule or the break neck pace doesn't work for you. They are two separate programs, and you have to go back and reapply to the college. -The program is more than 50k, for 1.5 years of instruction. Go to this school if you: have 50k to spend, someone who will support you entirely so that you can completely quit your job, or you want to take on 75k+ in debt and don't mind a totally disorganized, ever changing staff."
Holly
- Reviewed: 9/15/2023
- Degree: Communications
- Graduation Year: 2024
"My advice would be to look elsewhere. I should have done more research and gone to somewhere like Liberty University. This has not been a good experience as far as knowledgeable and helpful instructors go. I have never been called by my Student Counselor. The material and curriculum for every class I have has so far has been flawed. I have an gotten A's so far. It seems like the program in new which they are saying it is not. However, for an established program, it should not have flaws in weekly materials, all of those discrepancies should have been worked out by now. Beware and do your reseach before jumping into GCU."
MB
- Reviewed: 8/29/2023
- Degree: Teaching
- Graduation Year: 2019
"At first I thought GCU was an awesome school. The classes are challenging and I loved that. As the classes progressed I realized all they wanted to do is indoctrinate students in to a one world government. They’re not Christians they’re Democrats. I also feel they required you take an excessive amount of unnecessary classes not pertaining to the degree. I definitely would not recommend this school. It saddens me to say that."
Marie Mckee
- Reviewed: 8/20/2023
- Degree: Nursing
- Graduation Year: 2023
"Horrible School! I do not recommend this school, especially their online classes. This university has a high rank of graduate students who can’t get a job anywhere, incompetent teachers who have no clue about the subjects. They are basically just in it for the money, but they can’t answer any of the student questions. I repeat, do not go to GCU, it is the worst school in the US. They will get your money, you will learn absolutely nothing. In addition, they would try to appear as Christian, but they truly are not. You will find out quick by their actions, they are not true Christians."
Raphael S
- Reviewed: 8/4/2023
- Degree: Computer and Information Science
- Graduation Year: 2023
"Horrible School, Terrible Program, Faculty is underqualified, Campus is Depressing, Entire Environment feels artificial, if they care so much about their school they should spend money improving conditions instead of trying to market the school eveywhere like a cancer."
Lorie Hane
- Reviewed: 7/30/2023
- Degree: RN to MSN
- Graduation Year: 2025
"I am shocked this school is still in business, to be honest. The entire experience was horrible. The staff are rude, the teachers are condescending and are never available to the students. In addition, you will never EVER get your transcripts! This school is a joke and should shut its doors! I took a few classes from this school and need my transcripts, they will take the money, but will not send the document. It is very storage why they are the ONLY nursing program that does not participate in third-party transcript service. RUN away from this tired old school!"
Anonymous
- Reviewed: 7/20/2023
- Degree: MBA in Organizational Leadership
- Graduation Year: 2025
"Originally I was admittedly hesitant to begin an online MBA program; however, my counselor and professors have been phenomenal. I’m currently in my fourth class (Finance 504), and although the program coursework is rigorous and seemingly daunting at times, I can’t speak highly enough on how much I appreciate receiving a quality education from this institution. Students definitely will have to dig into their texts and earn their degrees; nonetheless, the depth of knowledge and level of business acumen that this program provides will challenge and prepare students to achieve more in their communities, workplace, and future careers. I’ve literally put at least fifteen hours of studying in within a week because the coursework is so engaging that it makes one not want to stop learning. I could complete requirements with a third of the time, but engaging with such interesting material inspires me to glean as much as I can from this experience. Thanks to GCU for preparing me for a brighter future and providing a biblical foundation, which only enhances knowledge of servant leadership and financial literacy."
Jen
- Reviewed: 7/18/2023
- Degree: Clinical Psychology
- Graduation Year: 2016
"I attended Grand Canyon University for several years, expecting to graduate with the ability to license as a clinical counselor, only to find it impossible to complete to be licensed. Had I known their accreditation would not satisfy state requirements I would have never ever waited my time and all of the money I now owe in student loan debt."
Scott
- Reviewed: 7/17/2023
- Degree: Business
- Graduation Year: 2023
"I have to agree with all of the one star reviews here. They only care about your money. It's evident. They absolutely did not care if you work full time, have kids and are trying to make it work. ZERO help with anything regarding the coursework. Decided that I did not have the proper time to commit to this and dropped out. I understand tuition is still owed, but, to be hounded and basically harassed for money after the fact shows you exactly why they, and every other institution for that matter, assign you a student ID number. You are a number for them and a check to collect."
Dru
- Reviewed: 7/15/2023
- Degree: Project Management
- Graduation Year: 2023
"GCU is no different from any other online school. They all pretty much follow the same format, with a few wrinkles. I find some of the course work challenging and some of the course work easy. I have attended several online schools and they all are about the same. GCU is like every other online school, they have some people that like it and some people that do not. Remember, education is what you make it. There are numerous of people who have become successful from GCU. I completed a Masters from them years ago and it has opened up numerous of doors. If GCU is not the right school for you, then go somewhere else. Stop with the narrative that they only care about money, heck, all online schools only care about money (i.e. Liberty, ASU, UofA, etc) thats why they went online. If you are dumb enough to enroll in a school, without doing your research first, then really who is to blame, the school or you?"
Steven
- Reviewed: 7/14/2023
- Degree: Elementary Education
- Graduation Year: 2021
"Like others have said I wonder what school many of the negative reviews are referring to? I majored in Educational Studies, though I had planned on getting certified as an elementary school teacher. I knew that Educational Studies would not lead to teacher certification, but Covid was spreading at the time and I could not get into the classrooms to do my field work like I wanted to, so I decided to pursue a degree that required minimal classroom participation. After I finished the degree in Educational Studies I applied for a Substitute Teaching position with the Atlanta Public School system. After working as a substitute for a time, I was offered a position as a Paraprofessional. I took the position and am currently working in that field. I will be attending GCU to complete my teacher certification soon in a Master's program. I would like to say that there was no problem with getting a position in the Atlanta Public School. The interviews went well and the bachelor's degree from GCU was accepted without question by the Atlanta Public School System. What really surprised me was when I entered the classroom as a Paraprofessional I discovered that the classes I had taken at Grand Canyon University were so relevant to the curriculum of the Atlanta Public School system. I found myself constantly saying things like, "Wow I learned that at Grand Canyon." The degree in Elementary School teaching at Grand Canyon University is highly recommended. When reading one of the student's IEPs as a Para (I had a one on one student) I was comfortable with what I was reading, because I had studied similar wording and situations in courses at Grand Canyon University. While attending Grand Canyon University I found the teachers and administrators extremely helpful. Whenever I needed help they always responded to me in a timely manner."
Anthony Pompi-Moraes
- Reviewed: 7/11/2023
- Degree: Education
- Graduation Year: 2015
"I was surfing the internet and googled my University and must say that I'm really surprised by the negative reviews on here. I was full-time at GCU's doctoral school of education and finished my EdS in 3 years. Every single staff except for ONE professor was always professional and polite. I did have one professor who, in my opinion, appeared to take an instant dislike to me. I have to admit that, in my opinion, this professor seemed to be unable to conduct himself professionally, politely or just plain neutral. Honestly, I hope he is not still employed at GCU, because he was the only thing I disliked about this great school. I considered transferring 1/2way thru his course, but decided to not let him derail my education. I originally had a Master's in Criminal Justice and since the Specialist in Education (EdS) is considered a terminal degree I was able to secure an adjunct position at a local suburban Boston college. What a life changer getting my EdS thru GCU has been. I will forever be grateful for the honor of studying and graduating from GCU. I have a GCU bumper sticker on my Benz and I hang a copy of my degree in my office which I make sure all my students can see. I wouldn't be surprised if I have steered many students to go from my two year college to GCU for their bachelor's and master's degrees. I'm a proud latino who happens to live with Parkinson's and epilepsy, but I would highly recommend to any student who is a senior in high school or finishing up there associates degree to seriously consider flying to Arizona and checking out Grand Canyon University. I hope it changes your life the way it changed mine. Thank you for everything GCU and God Bless!"
JR
- Reviewed: 6/28/2023
- Degree: RN to BSN
- Graduation Year: 2023
"Not the best school if you are still working while doing the RN-BSN program. While it’s not impossible to meet to coursework requirements, there are other universities that provide more flexibility for working RNs. You will be required to do 2 discussion board posts a week, 6 weekly peer responses scattered on different days, and one essay or PowerPoint presentation a week (or sometimes more). I switched school and we only have 1 discussion post and reply a week, and 1-2 essays for the whole course. I’m glad I switched"
Mercedes
- Reviewed: 6/24/2023
- Degree: Healthcare Administration
- Graduation Year: 2023
"GCU is a terrible school and I wish I would have done my research before starting here. Their school is overpriced and their staff are not the best. The only time I receive a call from this school is about money. They are very money hungry and does not try to hide it! They will call you on a Friday telling you you owe and trying to make you pay right away. I told them I will pay on Monday because they’re not going to rush me because anytime I call it goes to voicemail and I don’t receive a call back! Please do not go to school here as their curriculum sucks! The only good thing that I can say is that the professors typically grade pretty quick (within a week of submitting the assignments)."
JDC
- Reviewed: 6/22/2023
- Degree: Business Analytics
- Graduation Year: 2022
"If pursuing any sub-doctorate level degree in Analytics, STOP now! While the people at GCU are personable, and some even display a level of caring, the overall experience did not give any advantages in the fields of Data Science, Analytics, or Business Intelligence. While you are exposed to a great many topics and tools, you will not gain an edge because of the cursory nature. There is absolutely no teaching involved. All curriculum is self-taught and 100% of the achievement is on the student. The instructors' role is more of a classroom proctor and grader. Redundancy, year after year, course after course, student after student, is GCU's foundation. No investment on their part means greater revenue as students enroll. This does not make for a successful outcome and greatly devalues the degree you might obtain. Any student wishing to gain entrance or advance in the aforementioned fields would be far better off spending the time and money gaining mastery in the primary tools of the industry rather than the classes at GCU. Coursera, Udemy, YouTube are much better forums to design your own curriculum. First, achieve a strong intermediate level in Excel including the statistical functions, pivot tables, and advanced formulas (especially looking up data). Next, gain confidence in any SQL based coding (MySQL, Oracle, etc.) up to some level of certification. Next, move to visualizations either with Tableau or PowerBI. These provide fundamental you must have in your skill set. From there, add abilities in R, Python, and any database management. Lastly, learn all you can about ETL functions, data manipulation for business purposes, and become highly proficient in writing. This won't give you a degree of any sort but your skills will be vastly more valuable than a degree, especially from GCU."
Miguel
- Reviewed: 5/15/2023
- Degree: Business Administration
- Graduation Year: 2023
"In my previous academic endavors I graduated one school with a 4.0 GPA and the undergrad with a 3.7 GPA. This experience was really horrible for me and my finances. I feel that I really made the wrong decision. I agonized over writing a review here, because it is in my nature to be positive and also to think of others - the staff, the school spirit with the students - etc. I hope you have a better experience and that things improve with the masters programs to the point that they properly accommodate working professionals, people who support their families."