Significant scholarships for transfer students equalize private and public education costs
Contact: Lindsey Fosse, 800-800-9766 Ext. 7527
PHOENIX, Oct. 7 /Christian Newswire/ -- In an effort to encourage the pursuit of a college degree in these recessionary times, Phoenix-based Grand Canyon University (GCU) today announced significant cuts to its housing and meal plans, the elimination of campus parking and facilities fees and a tuition freeze for its current and incoming students attending classes on campus. The reductions, along with an increase in available scholarships for transfer students brings the cost of attending a private university to a level that is nearly equal to or less than the cost of attending a public institution, and dramatically less than most other private universities throughout the country. The new costs are effective January 1, 2010 and include all students living on campus for the spring semester.
"We want people to know that a high quality private faith-based education in a safe environment can be affordable, accessible and realized even in these recessionary times," said Grand Canyon University CEO Brian Mueller.
GCU's room and board will be reduced an average of 20 percent. Among the other commitments from the University's administration:
• Tuition for on-campus students will be frozen through the 2011 – 2012 school year
• Substantial additional dollars in scholarships will be dedicated to transferring students, including a new Arizona resident grant for admissible students
• Parking and other facilities fees totaling almost $600 will be eliminated
• Students receive free admission to any of the University's athletic events
• All students meeting minimum GPA requirements are guaranteed placement in their professional college of choice
GCU also offers a substantial number of academic scholarships available to incoming students with a minimum high school or college GPA of 3.0 as well as spiritual life and athletic scholarships.
"We recognize that families and students are struggling right now with the economic prospects of higher education. They may have delayed plans to attend college, or may be enrolled in an environment not suited to their personality or lifestyle. A private education can be the high quality, personal and affordable solution they're seeking to pursue their academic and professional purpose," Mueller said.
GCU cites its accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission and multiple programmatic accreditations, the ability to charge the same for both in-state and out-of-state students, as well as its safe environment, small class size and full-time campus faculty (teaching assistants are not employed in the classroom) as major advantages in its private school experience.
"Our students have the opportunity to live in campus housing that is modern and up-to-date, with spacious rooms and apartments. We have a secure campus with ample opportunities for student involvement and most importantly, a place where we can guarantee that you will not be a nameless face in a crowd of thousands," Mueller said.
Mueller often draws comparisons to the costs of attending and living on campus at public institutions, noting the cost to attend GCU, especially with the abundant scholarships, will, for many students, be equal to or less than the cost of attending one of the state's public universities.
"The cost of attending ASU or UA for an honors-level student, living on campus, is estimated at just more than $20,000. With these new reductions along with our generous scholarships and close-knit campus community, I think the return on investment speaks for itself," Mueller said.
Mueller is encouraging GCU's existing students to recruit their friends to consider GCU to fill the 600 available spots for the spring semester. He recently announced plans for a 55,000 square-foot student recreation center and additional student housing, anticipated to be ready for the fall 2010 semester.
"The tuition rate for our online students has consistently been in the lowest 25 percent of all private universities offering online programs," Mueller said. "With these decreases, our campus students will now receive a private Christian education at rates commensurate with a state university education and well below rates at most private universities in the country."
New model of higher education supports reinvestment
GCU offers a unique model for higher education - an institution that marries the best of a traditional campus environment with the quality attributes of an online degree program. The University is market-supported and does not rely on taxpayer dollars or public financing, but rather is fueled by the popularity of its reputable online degree programs and the credibility of its campus assets. GCU's 95-acre campus offers more NCAA-competitive sports than any other institution in Arizona, including men's and women's basketball, volleyball, golf, swimming, cross country and tennis teams, as well as baseball, softball, lacrosse and wrestling. The University recently announced plans for a 5,000-seat performance center to host its newly invigorated men's basketball program and 200-plus conferences, community events and Christian concerts.
Enrollment in GCU's online degree programs have quadrupled over the past four years and now numbers more than 25,000. The increased interest in the online program has been prompted by the pursuits of those looking to change careers or enhance their professional status through advanced education, and the appeal of GCU's faith-based curriculum with its traditional campus. GCU's robust online curriculum has received accolades through national awards and rankings.
More information about GCU's Cost Reduction Plan is available at http://gcu.edu/costreduction or by calling 877.820.5042.
About Grand Canyon University
Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is a traditional regionally accredited, private, Christian university offering campus-based and online bachelor's and master's degree programs through the Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Education, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and College of Liberal Arts. The Phoenix-based school is ranked as having one of the top online education programs by OEDb (Online Education Database). GCU emphasizes individual attention for both traditional undergraduate students as well as the working professional. For more information visit www.gcu.edu.
