"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."

MorganD

Reviewed: 1/25/2023
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2024

"Looking to waste your time, money and patience? GCU is right for you! This college is rude, unorganized, and just looking for your money. In the amount of time I had any association with GCU (2 weeks) everything about it was a red flag. They came to my work for a recruiting events and gave out all the right answers, so I began the process of enrollment. At the beginning of enroll (transcript already sent), I was told i'd graduation in 1 year(only reason I picked this college). Then it was moved to graduate in 1.5 years. Then, it was 2 years. And finally, it was 2.5 years. Aside from the inconsistent answers, I noticed they only have a graduation rate of 41%, when my classes started I noticed why. In the first day of my first class, it was expected that I post 3 discussion posts and have 8 additional replies. Which is a lot for just an introduction class. They work load is outrageous when compared to other colleges my fellow teachers attended. So workload and pushing my graduation date out, I decided I would drop out and attend a college close to home with friends who are attending and know what it is like. When I decided to drop out, it took several days for someone to reach out to me. When I finally received an email about it, the guy was very rude to me. He stated i would never find a college where I can graduate within a year and good luck with my expectations. Well, my luck took all of 5 minutes to find a college with a fast track program and were actually nice to me! So GCU has a very low graduation rate, inconsistent answers to everything, only in it for the money and very rude. I hope this review helps anyone considering this college. I read ALOT of reviews before deciding on attending, after ignoring all the bad reviews I discovered first hand how bad GCU is. Good luck if you decide to ignore the reviews like I did!"

Kim Wootson-Harris

Reviewed: 9/30/2022
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2021

"I am grateful that I completed my Education, however, I was not able to have my transcript, because of a $300.00 balance. I pleaded with my student counselor but I was not successful. How about bending the rules for students that owe less than $500.00? Flordia Education allows new teachers to apply for a temporary certification, I would have gotten a teaching job, but since GCU is money hungry for $300, I had to wait to clear my balance. Then the calls were a pain, GCU wants to help further your education after graduation but then the last words from my student counselor were, how can I help you clear your balance? I did request my transcript but now I have to wait 90 days for eligibility and now I'm doing substitute teaching and sleeping on my friend's couch.THANKS A LOT GCU"

Reviewed: 9/7/2022
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2023

"Getting started you get alot of help .It’s a 50/50 chance if you get a professor who is good . I was told (by a professor) that they are given a curriculum they don’t write .Some have no clue what is assigned each week some expand on that curriculum."

Raymond

Reviewed: 7/15/2022
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2022

"I TECHNICALLY graduate in October but have completed all of my classes for my degree as of June. I would like to start by saying that I was very reluctant to attend GCU for a variety of reasons including (but not limited to) the horrible reviews I have seen online. While I did run into a couple of small snags with Student Services and Financial Aid, my overall experience in this university was pretty good! The vast majority of the instructors were knowledgeable and helpful, the workload was challenging but certainly doable, and the assignments were pretty straightforward and self-explanatory. I will say that this school is quite expensive. That much is absolutely true. However, all the other nonsense I have seen about not finding a career and not being a 'legitimate' degree is WILDY inaccurate. I am not a Christian and did not find my program overly religious nor was I penalized for my beliefs. I haven't even completed certification and have already received offers of employment at public district schools. If you are driven and know how to solve your own problems, this program is a breeze and gets you where you need to go if you are willing and able to put in the time and work."

Katie

Reviewed: 11/30/2019
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2023

"I am in my third, going on forth, class at GCU. For me, I have had excellent instructors who give accurate feedback. In addition to their feedback, they provide rubrics breaking down each instructors grading process. I have yet to have a bad or unprofessional instructor. Additionally, I have had success with my counselors, unlike many others who have reviewed. Maybe I just got lucky? or maybe a few bad apples make all appear ill informed. I previously attended community college for another degree, in a different field. I believe education is what you make of it. It is the student's choice to learn all of the information, no matter the format of the course. I am not religious and have not been pressured or graded negatively due to personal beliefs. Everyone I have come into contact with seems to have student success as a priority."

C.Brown

Reviewed: 9/14/2019
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2019

"After 4 years and 4 months of online classes, I cannot pass the Arizona State test nor can I pass the Texas State test to become a teacher. NOT one course prepared me for these test. I have had to search for study material on my own at my own expense to try to become certified. Since I have completed my degree apparently my student advisor cannot return any emails or calls. Grand Canyon University does NOT prepare their online students to become teachers. The classes they require you to take does NOT cover the information on the State Test."

Chavon

Reviewed: 6/5/2019
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2019

"GCU is a joke if you are looking for a college do not go with them. They do not know how to answer questions your student service advisor gets changed without notice. If you live in another state other than AZ for most states you have to pay to license in AZ and your state. When complaints are filed they do nothing about them. I will not return to them for my masters. They are also expensive my husband attended for a year and half his loans are only $10,000 under mine and I attended for 4 years."

anonymous

Reviewed: 6/12/2018
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2021

"If you are a hardcore religious fan this is your school, they try to use religious courses as being critical to your degree. I was going for the Elementary Education to become a Teacher. In this degree list of courses was at least 5 religious courses that were not an option. They force it down your throat. Avoid this place at all costs if you are one of free will, free thinker."

Sabrina

Reviewed: 4/10/2018
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2018

"My experience at GCU has been a great experience! The faculty and the counselors are wonderful! They were very helpful, and kind! Im excited to announce that I have about 3 more weeks, until I become a GCU graduate!!! Grand Canyon will always be an University I will highly recommend other students to attend."

Bri

Reviewed: 10/7/2017
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2017

"I was really hesitant to start an online program to obtain my bachelors degree. Now, I am beyond happy with how much new knowledge I have gained and I plan to pursue my M.Ed. through GCU as well. My advisor and supervisor were always available when I had a question."

Lynda

Reviewed: 5/22/2016
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2015

"I attended GCU online, one class at a time, for three years straight. I wanted a total online program after I finished my Bachelor's Degree at my local community college. I am not a great test-taker, so I was extremely happy to write a paper each week in lieu of a weekly test. However, this required a lot of work and dedication, as I gave up pretty much every Sunday for three years. Posting discussion questions/responses several times per week was also a commitment. With that said, this program worked for me. I found just about all of the teachers knowledgeable and fair. There is always one teacher you can do without, online or in a classroom. Sometimes the assignments didn't make sense, and it was a bit difficult to communicate with the professor about it, but it all worked out. I have no horror stories about financial aid, and always managed to reach a counselor. There does seem to be a high turnover of staff, but again, nothing that affected me much. I had a very positive attitude, and was thrilled to do all my schoolwork from the comfort of my home. I got a job as soon as I graduated. My schooling has helped me in the classroom, and overall, I enjoyed my journey at GCU. I would recommend them."

Disaster waiting to happen

Reviewed: 11/1/2015
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2013

"Hi Highly recommend not to go into debt getting a degree from GCU and here is why. I am a foriegn educated Elementary school teacher who was required to have an american degree to teach in my state. I hold multiple bachelor degrees from another country and have taught as a teacher there for 9 years. At the time I chose GCU because they were accredited and were available for online education. I was convinced by the financial counselors there that the cost of the student loans would be able to be paid back because of the teaching salaries I would earn. I was told that because I had foriegn degrees that were accredited, I could achieve an american degree in 3 years instead of 4. The truth was that even though I was a student that achieved a 3.8 GPA, it still took 4 years, The student loan kept piling up to the tune of almost 50K. I constantly found my professors far from adequate to teach these courses and my experiances with GCU staff was horrible. It required intervention many times through the years by the Dean to get continuing messes they caused cleaned up. Although I have great american references from my student teaching and a good GPA it has been over two years with no job opportunities. Lots of substitute jobs which don't pay the bills. I have excellent reviews by teachers and students and their parents but no prospects for a classroom of my own. It seems that in this field it is so political and that nepotism is running rampant. My loan interests have risen beyond the point of no return. None of these issues in this field were ever brought up by GCU. They had an extremely hard time finding a school to take me in as a student teacher as most schools were looking for student teachers from more well known universities. Bottom line is GCU Degrees in Elementary education are not the ones you want to present to a future school for a job. They are not well looked at unless you want a charter school or work in a risky area where they are desperate to keep teachers. Save your money and look for a better institution to spend the next 4 years at. These are my opinions but this mistake will affect me the rest of my life and the debt will stay with me past retirement. You need to consider all the facts from all sources before you make these types of decisions."

L.WOOD

Reviewed: 10/25/2015
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year: 2019

"Even though I have just started GCU online. I am in my 5th course, I have had nothing but good experiences. My instructors are always involved and my counselor checks in often. I always get quick responses when I have questions. Im sure I will have an instructor here and there that I do not agree with but isn't that like every other school."

Anonymous

Reviewed: 11/22/2013
Degree: Elementary Education
Graduation Year:

"I am currently starting my fifth course at GCU and I love it. I am reading a lot of bad reviews (and some good, of course), and I do not read anything here that cannot be fixed. I have friends who complain about the school I just transferred from, "They are so bad, I can't get anyone to help me, they've wasted my time..." and those people are just plain lazy. As a nontraditional student, I am speaking to my instructors, counselors, financial aid advisors, educational advisors, military advisors, etc. on a regular basis. If they do not call me for two weeks, I call them. I make it a point to build a relationship with them so they remember who I am. Being kind will get you very far. I also agree that you will get out what you put into it. I attended four different community colleges prior to transferring to GCU and 80% of my classes were on campus, while approximately 20% were online. It does not make a difference either way. One can sit in a classroom face to face with their instructor and "zone out" and not learn a damn thing. I love online classrooms because you are required to read the material to get to the next level. Sure, you can give vague answers and hope you get passed by and still get credit. But, where will that leave you? UNEDUCATED. I could sit here at home and educate myself without paying $11,000 per year and learn just as much if not more because I am a motivated learner. A smart person knows how to become EDUCATED. I want to be a teacher, and for that I need a BS, therefore I am here, just like any other college, to get my degree so I can get to the job I want. This is the first job I have wanted that required an education. I just left my previous career due to a back injury. I was a Chef for years and recently (within the past 5 years) an Owner and Chef. I did not need a degree for that. However, I studied my ass off and self-taught to the point where I opened my own business without even Culinary School. Those of you who are complaining about your counselors, PICK UP THE PHONE AND DIAL THE NUMBER! Your education is YOUR PROBLEM! YOUR RESPONSIBILITY! Does not matter what college it is, the smart will succeed regardless."