Grand Canyon University [GCU]
Reviews and Complaints

I have had several issues with professors being unprofessional and down right harassing (even openly calling students liars). I cannot learn in such a hostile environment and they refuse to change my class and want me to pay for another class-even though it's their employees that are harassing students!

I am a online student at Grand Canyon University, and I have had plenty of issues with the university, however the ground students have access to their financial advisers, and the book store. The online students have to call a call center that is is Tempe or Peoria to reach their financial advisers and they never return your calls, and you have to wait on the phone for many hours to resolve any issues if they get resolved. Lucky me I only live fie hours from the university and I had to drive there to speak to the Office of The President to resolve my issues concerning the lack of communication and poor customer service issues. I am still enrolled at the university it is a great institution to receive an education but the online students suffer more than the ground students.

I too have been an online student at GCU for some time. I have had a couple of small issues with accounting and such but nothing I was not able to get worked out. I am quite pleased with my education overall and can tell you as a resident of Phoenix that GCU is as much a "real" school as any. If we're talking about athletics (as the previous post mentioned football), I think there are actually 18 sports teams as well as other events, a student union, housing, and not enough parking spots. Everything you'd expect at a University. My suggestion, escalate the issue to a manager. I bet it gets taken care of then. If that doesn't work, try a book rental service like Chegg.com. It's cheaper than buying new books anyhow.

I am a student there and have had no problems. My counselor and everyone I have talked to or dealt with has been extremely helpful. FYI, this is a real "boots on the ground" school whose campus is located in Phoenix, Arizona. As a matter of fact, they just started up a football program. I don't see how you can be a student for 2 years and not have contact with anyone. Sounds fishy to me. Last thing, they are regionally accredited, which, in case you don't know, is the best you can get.

Make sure to file your complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona):

http://www.bbb.org/phoenix/Business-Reviews/schools-academic-colleges-and-universities/grand-canyon-university-in-phoenix-az-34001345/complaints/

I worked there. They are a mess. You should look into South University. They are also a school (except they have six ground campus locations), also regionally accredited and offer MSL 100% online w/Title IV funding, too. Good luck!

I think you can hardly blame the university for your own technical ineptitude. I graduated with my MEd. degree from there in 2007, and never had a technical problem. You have multiple methods to contact professors, including telephone numbers, and so if your computer crashed, you should have used a public computer such as at a library or made a phone call to make other arrangements. Perhaps a mail-in correspondence-type program would better suit your needs. Of course, you would still be responsible for submitting the work by the deadline. Sounds like you need to take some ownership in your inability to complete your courses.

I was with GCU for almost 2 years and never had anything that wasn't almost immediately resolved. My wife began 1 semester after me and has has problem after problem. The first issue was that they had her as a cohort, or living on campus student, which, of course, costs quite a bit more. It took them almost 6 months to rectify this, but to their credit, they did get it fixed eventually. The last class that she began, after the 1st week, she mentioned that she thought she'd already had this class. She called her academic counselor (one of the 5 or so she's had in under 2 years) who told her that she'd accidentally been put in ENG 106 before and now needed ENG 105. So, she continues and continues to recognize her work. I looked into it and then went to her files where we keep all of our university work and found that she had indeed already taken ENG 105. So, she calls her counselor back who tells her again that she has not had ENG 105 and must have it and that she is in the right class. So, she continues to do the coursework but still is recognizing the work. Finally, I asked her to call again. She did and again she was told that she was in the correct class. Knowing that I can't speak to anyone concerning my wife's account, I called and asked for a manager. Prior to this my wife and I went through her work and found a 7 week (the time of a course) gap in her work. These dates corresponded to the gap in her work. We let the supervisor know this. Finally, the figured out by looking at her postings in the ANGEL system that she had indeed been in the class, contacted the professor (which we had already suggested) and found that she'd passed the class with an A. About a month ago, they took her out of the class and have yet to rectify the situation. They have now, it seems, un-enrolled her from GCU and we have no idea what's going on and cannot get a call back. My question is this: what kind of legal action can we take? This is costing us money in student loans and we all know ho long it takes the government to correct anything even if it's someone else's or even their faults.

Argh... some characters are not supported by this board SORRY about sifting through the garble-dy-[censored]. :)

No problem with GCU what so ever. I've been a University Adminstrator from a Financial Aid Counselor to the Dean. And No problems with GCU while earning my 3rd Master's degree. Understanding the fine print and reading every little detail will get you through. They discourage you to borrow more than you need...but all you have to do is ask for the overage and a big fat LOAN check will be sent to you like mine was yesterday for living expenses. Be patient with them... they have a few newbies on the Financial Aid staff. The loan counseling you had to take to accept the loan (did you go online in MY GCU and accept your loan amounts and all that) informs you everything you need to know about your loan...even if Grand Canyon didn't or doesn't. It's all there on the Feds Loan site. Make sure you REAPPLY for Financial Aid again by JUNE FIRST of this year. A student has to apply TWICE a year to get money... it's been that way for the 35 years I've been an administrator. So-- just keep trying.. and talk to the FEDS about distribution..not GCU...they have little control over GETTING THE $$ they promised you. The FEDS sometimes take their own sweet time...making GCU be the SCAPEGOAT. GOOD LUCK!

This is for CDR-76 - I agree with you about Angel, turning in assignments, etc. I've not had any problems (I'm not doubting the others on this page- I'm just saying it's worked okay for me). Occasionally Angel's been down when it came time to turn in assignments but the instructors were understanding and it was repaired quickly.

My problem is with financial aid and unexplained charges. It's now May 1 and I still don't have my financial aid package for the [protected] school year. They keep saying it will be finished by "the end of next week" but it never is. Now they say it might be the end of the summer and that I won't get any aid until then. My fear is that I won't get aid, for some reason, and will be stuck with a huge tuition bill. AND, I need the money to support myself. The finanical aid "counselor" tried to tell me that I'm not allowed to use financial aid money for living expenses. That's totally wrong (I verified this with the Dept. of Ed.). If she doesn't know something that basic, how is it that she's a "counselor?" I can't get anyone to return my calls or emails - the only way I speak with someone is if I wait on hold for the "next available advisor." It's crazy! I don't know who to contact.

Have you had these problems this semester? If so, how have you handled it? Thanks!

I'm an online student at GCU and have never had a single problem with them, the angel classroom or any of the advisors. I see several instances of people saying that they can't turn in assignments, or don't understand what to do. Well, all of the info you need is provided for you in every class. You just have to take the time to read it. As for being unable to access the classroom because your computer won't let you ... one of the first question i was asked was if i'd have access to another computer if something happened to mine. If you can't log in there, then try the public library. Nearly all of them have computers you can use to access the internet. The point i'm making is, instead of complaining about the troubles you've had, i think the time would be better spent trying to find the solutions that will work for you instead of waiting on someone to fix things for you.

I am three weeks from finishing an undergrad BSN degree from GCU online. The information in the syllabus' have the information re: each assignment, whether or not to use turnitin, etc. If someone doesn't have decent technical abilities - this is a really frustrating way to take school and I would definitely discourage it.

As for wiping off grades, I don't know whether any school is able to do that. With the 5 week block courses they do with the online classes, it makes it really hard because compressing a 15 week syllabus into 5 weeks is very difficult and the pace is unbelievable. There is no time to get behind, and the information re: turning anything in late is also posted in each syllabus, and every instructor I have had has either said they will not accept late work or it's severely docked (like 10% per day).

I am sorry to hear about your experience with GCU. I overall have been mostly happy with the school despite some problems with Angel.

What about a class action suit? If we gather our information there are lawyers out there whowill take a large case like this (especially if it's high profile) and do it probono...

I have been faced with a similar situation and what is really a joke, there is no government agency, or social support to fight this rip of university. I have gone to the Attorney General and the free legal aid service and they all say, they are no governed by any specifice organization. So, we are just screwed.

I was told I would recieve a scholarship from the university and that they would do anything to help me while on the school. I recieved a lot of calls from my enrollment counselor and recieved a lot of information about the school but not about the classes themselves. I warned them that I often got sick and had a lot of problems attending regular school because of that. That's how I recieved financial aid when I was denied before. I got two student loans which they did not explain much to me about until the bank giving sent me the specifics about the loan. I finish the fist week of class just fine but after that, all just went down hill. I explained to the professor giving the class about the situation but never helped me, just told me to talk to my counselor. They never explained in the sylabus about late policies and about how one is supposed to to turn in any papers done to a website called turnitin.com. No one explained it to me even though I repeatedly about the website. I tried to get in, but the website requires a school password. Without it being turned in my papers were not graded. I probaly recieved an F in that class. I have barely started my second class and I cannot go into the website, my username and password are not working anymore, apparently. I tried everything! I is just so frustrating, they are taking my money and ripping me off. Many of the other students that were actually at the school started complaining about the unfairness found only at the online courses. The professor wouldn't let me make up any of the work because she wanted me to actually "learn" from the class. What does making up work have anything to do with not learning? I read the entire book and understood the material, did I not learn from that? I really hope someone does complain to the authorities so that something is done about that school.

I am writing to let everyone beware. I was attending this school back in 2008 online. I explained to them that I was pregnant and that sometimes I have tough pregnancies. This may affect my ability to attend school. They told me that if that happens, to let them know or if it is at the beginning of the term, all I have to do is not attend class in the first week and I would be automatically withdrawn for the term. The inevitable happened and I didn't attend class the first week for any of my classes. I should have been automatically withdrawn and when I checked my status later, it said I was, but now they are trying to collect on classes that I never took. Classes that I never attended and according to their policies and what they told me, I don't owe them for. Very frustrating because they just keep bouncing me from collection company to collection company racking up more fees and bigger debt.

This so called "Christin School" is not that! I too am very disappointed in this school! when i first applied the financial aid counselor called me ran down everything i was paying and when i asked her if she could email it to me because i couldn't remember or understand she said she would and never did ...next thing i know i got a check in the mail for $1600.00 they even took my GRANT! I will find a lawyer we need to do something about this...they were on the phone with me as well alllllllllll the time until they got my money, now no one emails, calls or anything! I want OUT TOO!

I attend GCU right now and I was so disappointed when I received my first financial aid check! it was 1600 but they took everything else even my grant! i should have went to a local college but i was working at the time. and on top of that I noticed that when i first started they kept in contact with me frequently and soon as they robbed me no more phone calls! i'm so hurt by this so-called Christian School!

There was no name with this complaint. If this student will contact me the issue can be resolved quite quickly.
Bill Jenkins
Executive Director, Institutional Advancement
Grand Canyon University
602.315.5566

I don't see this article posted

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2019/07/18/grand-canyon-university-recruiters-committed-fraud-lawsuit-alleges/1772342001/

before enrolling please do your research!

These statements are all still remaining true. And for those who want to back GCU, I can not wait until poetic justice hits you. I too wanted to further my education and what I was told in the beginning has not been true. They state they can change a curriculum and add on courses. They withdrew me because of the internship being unavailable and what the government wanted them to return, they charged me for it. As all these others people have stated, so what is the common factor here? All these different people, from all walks of life, trying to progress their career goals and life achievements in a supposedly "Christian" university? GCU was the biggest mistake I ever made in my entire life. And they can keep their curses that they call blessings. Leaving me in a ton of debt, no degree and owing them money for courses that I did not take.

Is there anyone out there that can help us? lynnr38@hotmail.com Kathy.

I enrolled with Grand Canyon University, in 2009 and I tried to sign into the class but was locked out of the classroom. I contacted the school and their response of reasoning was that they could not obtain my transcripts. I was told that they could not get them due to unresolved matters between a previous University enrollment and myself. I contacted the other University and cleared up the problem, yet, they continue to this day to tell me that they could not cancel the charges that had been applied. The charges are $2678.00. My case has been turned over to a collection agency and even after contacting the Grand Canyon University again, they are refusing to revoke the charges. Maybe I'm in the wrong business. Teaching nothing seems to pay very well. Hmmm? Does anybody there have a spine or know their job? MT

I can empathise with you. I also enrolled with Grand Canyon University, in 2009 and I tried to sign into the class but was locked out of the classroom. I contacted the school and their response of reasoning was that they could not obtain my transcripts. I was told that they could not get them due to unresolved matters between a previous University enrollment and myself. I contacted the other University and cleared up the problem, yet, they continue to this day to tell me that they could not cancel the charges that had been applied. The charges are $2678.00. My case has been turned over to a collection agency and even after contacting the Grand Canyon University again, they are refusing to revoke the charges. Maybe I'm in the wrong business. Teaching nothing seems to pay very well. Mark

Hello Co Co Beans,

Please reach out to the Student Resolution Team directly by emailing resolutionteam@gcu.edu or calling [protected] with the details of your issue and someone will reach out to you via phone or email within one business day.

Thank you for the opportunity to help resolve your issue.

Help! I Started GCU a few months back for a partial semester I was wondering why there was a hold on my reimbursment check well to later find out my old school wod not release my transcript so I had to drop the class I called gcu ans sent emails several times to drop the class and see what the next process but no one ever returned my calls but the next time I heard from them was from the collections department calling me for 1700 dollars. Question is it legal to start classes without receiving my transcript secondly do they report this to the credit agency and last is there anything I could do if any regarding this payment I can't afford.. Thanks in advance for answers!

Hi Susan,

Please reach out to the Student Resolution Team directly by emailing resolutionteam@gcu.edu or calling [protected] with the details of your issue and someone will reach out to you via phone or email within one business day.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to resolve your issue.

I had a disbursement made on 12/10/2019. My account says its -3339.80. How long should I have to wait until I recieve a stipend check? Or will I recieve one?

Why am I still waiting for my stipend that was mailed on the 8th. I have been in contact and for this university not to do direct deposit is troublesome? I've called several times to the department's tide with disbursements. With these being federal funds and me not having them in hand looks very bad for GCU. Someone needs to correct this adapt!

Forever to respond and when this particular "professor" did, she was RUDE and never helpful.
You walk blindly through each course.
Worst school ever.

Hello I'm in my first week of online class at GCU. Can anyone tell me how financial aid works here? I like this school, but I see a lot of negative on here. I just want to know more about financial aid. When does it post the disabursment on your portal.

I was advised by my student counselor that I would receive a certain amount of funds left over from my aids. I plan on buying a new laptop with it I can't get any to tell me anything about anything

grad student - my account says stipend 8/12/19 does that mean my check was sent out ? I'm super new to GCU so I'm looking for insight

This college a rip off. I dont understand there process for getting disbursements. I only gotten one and I be there almost 6 months. I thought it was every months. They have their own thing. Nobody else does their disbursement GCU.

Just curious as to how you know how much your refund will be and when it will be available

It seems like everytime I enter GCU the "security guards" only check my ID. A ton of people who are walking both in front of me and behind me NEVER have to flash their IDs so I'm just wondering why a 5'2", 115 lbs freshman looks dangerous or suspicious. This school's "security" is a joke.

My student teaching was in a 5th and 6th grade Social Studies classroom. It was the day to use the WhiteBoard. The host teacher set it up for me! We were studying Explorers and one place on the Whiteboard was the Princeton.edu website. It was set up with a picture of the Patagonian Giants reported by many explorers. Susan Rice, hearing of my dismissal for filming class, spent 2 hours with the host teacher going over every aspect of my days spent there thus far. The story she came up with was that I was teaching on giants, even though I had teaching materials and work sheets filled out by students, as well as games that we had played that day on the explorers. But according to GCU, I was dismissed for teaching on giants! I was then informed if I wanted my degree, I had to pay for and take disciplinary classes! I stormed about this for a while, but what could I do? I took them. This was in December/January and we were hit by a huge snow storm. Electric, phones, internet, everything was out for several days. By the time I got to read email, I discovered that in 3 days, I was to appear for a new student teaching gig. Now I had to work while in college. I was a live in home health care aide for a stage 4 cancer patient, I needed more than 3 days to arrange for her care! Sorry, but by refusing this placement I had refused my degree! Too bad so sad, they didn't owe me anything! So here I am, and may the Lord judge between us!