Grand Canyon University Acceptance Rate
Phoenix, Arizona · Private for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 47,978
- Admitted
- 28,960
- Yield
- 29.1%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Grand Canyon University's acceptance rate has risen from 57.6% in 2014–15 to 60.4% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 23,901 to 47,978 (+101%) over that period.
Its 60.4% rate makes Grand Canyon University more selective than about 74% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 9 tracked Arizona schools, it is more selective than about 78%.
In 2023–24, men were admitted at a higher rate (58.6% for women vs 63.4% for men, a 4.8-point gap). Grand Canyon University has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 29.1% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 23,901 | 13,759 | 57.6% | 2,980 |
| 2015–16 | 34,475 | 14,893 | 43.2% | 3,459 |
| 2016–17 | 34,096 | 19,413 | 56.9% | 3,318 |
| 2017–18 | 32,734 | 21,906 | 66.9% | 3,515 |
| 2018–19 | 31,958 | 23,392 | 73.2% | 4,029 |
| 2019–20 | 37,456 | 28,818 | 76.9% | 6,659 |
| 2020–21 | 48,918 | 39,474 | 80.7% | 7,858 |
| 2021–22 | 36,861 | 30,534 | 82.8% | 7,620 |
| 2022–23 | 29,304 | 22,818 | 77.9% | 8,438 |
| 2023–24 | 47,978 | 28,960 | 60.4% | 8,420 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 30,799 | 18,063 | 58.6% |
| Men | 17,162 | 10,888 | 63.4% |
| Unknown | 17 | 9 | 52.9% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 540–620 | 0% |
| SAT Math | 518–555 | |
| ACT Composite | 19–24 | 0% |
How Grand Canyon University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Grand Canyon University's acceptance rate?
Grand Canyon University's acceptance rate is 60.4% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (28,960 admitted of 47,978 applicants).
Is Grand Canyon University test optional?
Grand Canyon University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Grand Canyon University?
Grand Canyon University received 47,978 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 28,960.
What SAT score do you need for Grand Canyon University?
Admitted students at Grand Canyon University typically scored 540–620 on SAT Reading/Writing and 518–555 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Grand Canyon University getting harder to get into?
Grand Canyon University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 57.6% in 2014–15 to 60.4% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.gcu.edu/.