Grand Canyon University [GCU]
Reviews and Complaints

I’m so exhausted with GCU. I put in years of online learning. Initially, I felt it was a great choice. As years passed, it got worse. I was ripped off financially and left with nothing. I wouldn’t recommend this university to anyone. They claim to be Christian! But their fruit say different. Their goal is money. Whether you pass, fail, or drop out doesn’t seem to matter to them. I’m done with them. They can keep my transcripts. I’ll just start over. Thanks for taking my GI Bill money and leaving me with nothing.

As someone who values a Christian education, I was initially drawn to Grand Canyon University for its mission and programs. However, my experience has been mixed. While the faculty and counselors are supportive, there have been issues with communication and transparency. Some hidden fees and challenges with obtaining transcripts have been frustrating. It's clear that there is room for improvement in areas like customer service and financial clarity. Despite these challenges, the school does offer fair tuition prices and a positive learning environment for those pursuing higher education.

Had the rudest interaction with an academic advisor/administrative individual named Matt. He was blunt, pushy, and became rude when I told him I was at work and could not be on the phone with him at the moment. The short conversation I had with him was enough to show me how little I wanted to join/work with this University- if he was offended because I was busy at work, then I can't imagine the school being as flexible, accommodating, or understanding as a working individual needs.

As an update to an earlier complaint, I began class on July 11 and more than a month later, I still have not received my Graduate Plus Loan funds. Student services (as there is no real financial aid office) kept giving me a multitude of excuses, none of them resulting in my loan being disbursed. I made them aware that an eviction letter had been issued to me and nothing resulted. I have recently been made aware of a legal action that a firm is taking against GCU. Apparently, I am not the only Doctoral candidate who has had these issues. This unnecessary stress is unfair to someone writing the remainder of their dissertation, but things have a way of evening out. Buyer beware.

I started class on July 11th and much like every semester and academic year here, there is always an issue with the financial aid. Not every student hails from a wealthy family. I already work 40 hours a week, more would be prohibitive to my academic performance. Thankfully, I am closing in on graduation this academic year, but the unnecessary stress has really soured my Doctoral experience. I don't know if it's because GCU doesn't have a separate office for that, but every semester I have had to wait weeks after class to receive my loan. This is unnecessary angst and stress that is being placed on myself and other Doctoral students. I reminded student services that I was facing eviction weeks ago. They did not care. There was no urgency, no rush to help or anything like that. Now, a month later, my aid has still not been delivered. If I am evicted from my apartment, I'm going to take legal action. This is unprecedented for a Doctoral candidate to have to deal with this.

On 7/11/24, I started in what hopefully, is the final year in the Doctoral program in Psychology at the College of Doctoral Studies. I had received an eviction notice for failure to pay rent as my financial aid supplements the hours that I am able to work. I notified Ms. Sarah Davis that I needed my aid processed quickly. GCU has been notoriously slow with processing my Grad Plus loan every single semester. Last Friday (7/26), I decided to call the school to find out what the delay was. They finally tell me that the Grad Plus loan counseling needed to be renewed. When I call on Monday, they now tell me that my endorser needs to renew the MPN. Why wasn't this disclosed weeks ago? Now, my Student Advisor, Steve Rentzell emails me today and states, 'I have requested the funds. Note, it may take up to 30 days to post to the account.' Please do not give me that nonsense. In my two prior Master programs, the funds were either available at the start of class or that week. Please stop making life MORE difficult as I finish my Dissertation and issue my refund THIS WEEK. Thank you!

on June 4,2024,the financial aid counselor took my remaining balance of my stipend check and lied to me for weeks like it was on the way but nver came. After waiting for weeks and listening to her lies i call her once again , and she tells me once the class was over ,that i would be receiving any money because i fail my class after i couldnt log in for the last 2 weeks of class left due to my laptop going out , proir to it going out i had spoke with both rachel and jessica about buying a new one ,rachel told me advise me not to worry because i can use my balance from my pell grant stipend check to buy a new one. Jesscia lied to me for months , telling me my stipend check was on the way knowing she had never sent it and held it until she got my final grade ,then told me i wasnt getting any money from anything because i fail my class and she was taking my money and putting it towards a re-take with out speaking to me about it! i felt very mislead and decided to with draw from the school because it was too much misleading lies and information.The school took my whole pell grant check ($1973.77) and only send $436.00 back to financial aid! so now i have a owe balance to the school on top of them taking my pell grant money! i wouldnt recommend this school to no one!

I enrolled in Grand Canyon University to seek another degree. After I enrolled, I got COVID. I had to withdraw from school. I never attended any classes. I was unable to withdraw by the date because of my medical condition, when I did withdraw, they told me that I was too late and they are charging me for that semester. I did not attend classes. Due to me having COVID and the pandemic was going around the country, the university should have been more compensating and helpful.

The Department of Education recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic created many unique challenges for postsecondary institutions. The Department provided a variety of special guidance and regulatory flexibilities due to the President’s declaration of the COVID - 19 national emergency on March 13, 2020. In addition, Congress passed legislation offering relief from certain statutory requirements related to the Title IV, HEA programs.

Although COVID-19 continues to affect the lives of many Americans, the COVID-19 national emergency ended on April 10, 2023, through enactment of H.J. Res. 7, Public Law No. 118-3. Additionally, the COVID-19 public health emergency ended on May 11, 2023. These actions will trigger the sunset of many waivers and flexibilities for the Federal student financial aid programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I should have not been billed for withdrawing from Grand Canyon University, The university has sent this to collection and is reporting it on my credit report.

My name Is Melodie Reece I have been going to Grand Canyon University since 2016 right out of high school. I started August of 2016 on campus for my bachelor's in nursing, after about 3 months I went in person to speak to an advisor about switching my major. Unsure of who I spoke to in person, I let them know that the nursing program was very rigorous, and I had professors telling me I needed to study and do homework for their class alone for 8 plus hours on top of me working full time. After much thought, I let the advisor know I wanted to become a therapist, get licensed and start my own practice. I was advised by this advisor to switch major to bachelor's in behavioral health science. I completed that program on 1/10/2021, from that I worked closely with multiple advisors whom I have attached emails from me and them letting them know my goal had not changed. I was advised to move onto a master's program to pick any psychology program, I went with forensic psychology. I completed my masters of science in psychology with an emphasis on forensic psychology 2.1.23. About 5 months before I completed my masters, I reached out to an advisor to see about my internship and the steps I needed to take to get licensure. They had informed me that the program I was in would not get me licensed and I could either stop the master's program and get into another or just continue this program and do my doctorate in psychology at GCU and get licensed that way. I decided to stay in the program since I had already planned to go for my doctorate. Once I had completed my master's program I reached out to my advisor, was told I needed to talk to a doctorate advisor, reached out to them and it took them three weeks to get back to me. On that call I was informed that none of GCU doctorate programs are accredited which means I can't get licensed with them, nor is there a doctorate in clinical psychology program. He sent me a list of schools that are accredited and have a clinical psychology program. There are two in Arizona, which are midwestern and ASU. I applied to both and got put onto a waiting list for both for an undetermined amount of time due to their programs being extremely popular. For midwestern I would have to do another master's program then move onto the PSYD program. So now it is April I was told by both schools I should look into doing a program somewhere else till I am pulled, reached back out to GCU 3.28.23 and expressed my concerns and how I was led the wrong way. I talked to Courtney, my advisor, and she encouraged me to apply for the masters in clinical mental health counseling so I could get licensed. She sent me the board of Arizona's website so I could ensure this program would get me licensed. She apologized if she gave me any false information. In this situation, apologies only get us so far. I am $80,000 in debt from student loans and about to have another $40,000 on top of that due to these advisors leading me the wrong way and lying about programs. Now, I am having to crawl back to GCU because of them being the only school that can accept me right now due to me being an alumni. I am owed something from this whole mess, I am about to be $120,000 in debt and i want to find and navigate a solution that I feel is acceptable and benefits both parties involved. As I know image and reputation are of upmost importance to the school and education, respect and integrity are important to me. I ask for this due to me being lied to from multiple advisor's, the emotional distress that has been placed on me since dealing with this situation and now it will take me even longer before I am able to get a doctorate and finish my end goal which is being a licensed therapist with my own practice. It is only right that I am paid adequately for this mess. This is a situation that can be detrimental to any students continued education and could very possibly cause many students to drop out or grow a distaste for the education system as a whole, with the added falling short of expectation regarding your schools boasting being the premier Christian university. Which my experience does not reflect that self-evaluation. Recently as of 2.20.24 i am unable to get my advisor Becky Coady to respond to me about a balance that I supposably owe the school. I am trying to ensure I will be able to start my next class which is March 6th but do not know if this balance will keep me from it. I feel like i am being ignored and have made multiple email attempts which are attached to this letter along with calling and leaving voicemails for her to reach back to me. I would like to be reached out to about the situation with my previous master's program with GCU and I would like to be reached out to about this current balance i am being told I have.

In a world where healthcare professionals are farther and farther between and in continued increasing need we need to ensure that we implement processes and procedures that allow for these professionals to complete their goals and provide care to the community and society in which we all operate.

Best Regards,

Melodie Reece

I received my undergrad degree at GCU in 2019. In 2022 I decided to go for my Master’s in Special Education. All was good, I was working a full-time job as a teacher in an inclusive setting. School was hard and I was put on academic probation for a low grade. I was able to bring the next 3 class grades up.

So, academic probation was over and I resumed classes. They made me wait for about 2 months I believe before I could attend the next class.

Anyway, life happens and I started to falter again in a class. Jacob who is one of the advisors now (2023) emailed me to let me know that I still had 3 more classes to go. Even though I should have know all the classes to take they weren’t anywhere on the GCU site until that day he emailed me. They suddenly appeared. Nothing was mentioned to me about the class and how my grade had dipped. So, I continued on talking with the professor and never mentioning anything that was going on in my life (which I can still prove by the way).

I was done with the class but received a failing grade.

Was informed by Jacob that GCU has a policy that the master’s student will be dismissed for 2 years because of the failing grade.

I tried emailing the appeals board but, never got an answer back. I did feel

like driving to South Phoenix to talk with someone but didn’t. This happened at the end of November 2023.

It’s February 2024 now.

I would gladly go back online to finish these classes so I could move on with my life.

Help?

Sarah Davis wrote to me stating that I’m not eligible for aid until April or May. Her basis for this is the ‘failure’ of two courses. The first was where your Proposal has to be submitted to Academic Quality Review. First, the Narrative Inquiry methodology and design is the most difficult of all dissertations. Second, my methodologist took a vacation two weeks before my Proposal was to be submitted to AQR. He did not submit it on time and this was after a white course of his taking 3-4 weeks to make corrections. I had an A in the course and my Dissertation Chair even recommended appealing.

The second ‘failure’ came in another course I was getting an A in. The objective here was to pass Academic Quality Review. Dr Lowrance and AQR put me through THREE cycles of revisions before finally approving me. The course only allowed time for two.

This has resulted in me not having received a financial aid check since July. I want to be immediately packaged as these arbitrary, one-size fit all standards cannot apply to a Narrative Inquiry Dissertation. I am in Data collection now. But my job barely pays my rent. I cannot get a second job as the dissertation does not allow time for that. I want to be packaged for the year IMMEDIATELY. Let’s this be a warning to future students entering the dissertation phase. We all do not have “slave money” in our families and should not be denied financial aid because of unfairness rather than true academic merit.

My son and I were led to beleieve he would only be in school 2 more years for theatre degree. He lives on campus and loves it but financially we were planning on 2 years and now we find out he has to attend an extra year which is an additional $10,000 to $20,000 more depending on if he stays on campus, which we live out of state. We were very upset about this. It would have been different if we were told ahead of time and had prepared for this financial journey.

This so called school is billing me for classes I did not authorize to be in. I attempted to register for a program but after several weeks of trying to find out more inform on when classes would begin and how or if I would be able to take any courses, I stared getting harassing calls and texts from a person who worked there who then put me in a class and told me I had to do all of these things. When I informed her I wouldn't be able to do that she still harassed me daily and even allowed financial aid to be applied on my behalf. Initially when I wanted to find out about taking classes, she notified me not to contact anyone but her until otherwise informed to do so. I contacted the department of education and had all funds taken back but now they are sending me bills, threatening to take me to collections if I don't pay all that back.

First of all, I would like to say my apologies because I am legally blind, so my spelling or grammar may not be 100% because I am using what is called Grammarly and voice-to-text speech, so there may be words added in that are different or doesn't make sense there may not be capitalization or punctuation because I am handicapped I cannot see I'm blind.

The first complaint of handicapped discrimination

When I started my class on October 2nd, 2023, every time we did the introduction, I always posted my handicaps, the fact that I am blind with partial vision. I suffer from binocular vision and dyslexia, so reading is almost impossible. My computer reads everything to me, and I use voice-to-text speech to respond, which is what I'm doing now. I have Grammarly correcting my stuff so it looks professional. Upon the starting of this class from my very first assignment my professor was punishing me talking points from my grade dropping my grade almost to a C because of the fact of capitalization and punctuation of citations and in text citations. I explained to him I am handicap I cannot help that I cannot see the screens or read good enough to adjust that. During the 4th week I contacted my student counselor miss Priscilla she overviewed everything and seen that what he was doing because I took screenshots was discrimination against me because he was punishing me because of my handicap which was situations out of my control. did I submit all of my handicaps to the disability office yes I did. My student counselor said she would talk to him. It is still going on.

Magically appearing new classes on my schedule making my course and financial burdens much longer so that they can magically get more money from me

Now after I filed the discrimination issue which I have sought legal counsel from an attorney who also said this is a perfect example of handicapped discrimination and is wanting to sue the school. Mr. Nate Lawrence by military supposed to be lazon magically lost all of my stuff. So now the school has tacked on an extra academic year because apparently all of my stuff magically disappeared my credits from my College that I attended to beforehand and my military credits everything magically disappeared so now I have to pay for a whole new full academic year instead of graduating at the beginning of 2025 now I have to graduate in 2026 thanks to Mr. Nate Lawrence

I'm a GCU 2nd time Master's graduate. This year has been my most challenging year with the leadership team that I have to communicate / collaborate with such as school counselor & my school counselor overseer. I really would like to speak with someone other than Luke Hiatt and Adam Blair. I don't like the treatment that I have been receiving from those two individual. I requested some changes and nothing was done. I was told that GCU didn't offer those changes. I asked for a payment agreement for my last class, I was told that it wasn't an option.

I would like someone to review our emails, my questions and concerns. As I mentioned earlier, I graduated with a Master's Degree in Special Education in 2015. I decided to pursue my Master's Degree in Educational Administration and this last year has been horrible for me. Please contact me at [protected]

I have been misled and lied to from Grand Canyon University. I am an online student and I received a strange letter from the school talking about them being in legal trouble, so i started doing my research. I already suspected the school was bogus after starting and my classes online consist of watching YouTube videos and chatting with classmates about nothing. They said I could not drop out before I finished another class or I would owe back all of my financial aid They're lying about my funding and I truly feel as though they're stealing money from students. I was informed this was not that religious of a school because after finding out it was religious I said i didn't want to go and I was convinced that religion would not be a part of my education but then find out they're forcing me to take religious classes and partake in prayers in every class. I am Buddhist and I was lied to and deceived, bullied into staying enrolled and feeling like I have no options. I am in my 30's and work for minimum wage. Returning to college was a HUGE decision and I have completely wasted time, energy, resources, efforts, etc. This has had a horrible impact on my mental and emotional well-being and I have seen HUNDREDS of students online reporting similar issues and being unsure what to do about it. Can't we gather a significant amount of individuals whom have been lied to and violated by this school and get our money back as well as receive compensation for the other ways of which this experience has cost us so much? I am seeking a lawyer that is willing to fight this case and bring justice to the people whom have been wronged by this fake puppy mill of a school. They're degrees aren't even accepted as legitimate, people cannot get jobs upon graduating and are left with thousands and thousands of dollars in debt. This school is ruining lives. It NEEDS to stop. Can you help?

I am asking GCU to refund for doctorate program classes after being led to believe I passed one class starting another then being told I didn't pass the 1st & telling me to reapply in 2yrs. Which I did not understanding the business of GCU. The last issue being the charging & non support of financial aid understanding or advice.

Charging nearly 500.00 to my account saying it wasn't covered by financial aid which could affect my credit report. I owe a substantial amount of student loans. I have earned my M.S. in Psychology w/ emphasis in Forensic Science from GCU, trying twice to achieve doctorate, with sudden drop from class I believed I passed. The professor ask me to redo paper & I would pass which I did reaching out to professor who never provided a phone # they answered, was late in scoring & after givingme instructionswhich I applied failed me. I had sone great professos from gcu I didn'tseethis coming & moved on to next class just to complete assignments, then be told I didn't pass the last. Financial Aid calls me & informed me I owe nearly 500.00. I'd like to resolve this issue asap, please grant me the relief I seek.

My student ID #.[protected]

Respectfully Submitted,

Mae Dean, former student

To whom it may concern, I am being told that I have a balance owed to this university(GCU). I was enrolled at the university and my intention was simply to enroll so that I could make a schedule that worked for me. It was literally the point of me taking this course ONLINE. As can be seen by the early and consistent difficulty that I experienced for the time I was in the class I was not prepared to begin nor consent to be placed in. I told this to miranda after she called because I missed the first few assignments because I was quite literally unaware that I had been placed into a class. I was met with a “well this is how we do things in this program so make sure you participate in the class”. My request to not start actually taking classes was ignored. I wanted to enroll so that I could begin in a future semester, not that same week. I would look at the financial breakdown of all this but my GCU account says that it no longer exists so I am being expected to just take someone’s word for it. I received an estimate but no actual breakdown , all that I received from the university was a bill for the class they decided on their own to put me in. I stated on my FAFSA that I wanted only to accept grants for this program because I wanted to wait for me to have the financial availability to pay for the course out of pocket, again when I was ready to START, and sign up for classes. This situation is predatory, not right, and unfair. I turned in less than 8 assignments and received no books/materials, my student account doesn’t exist to this university so I can’t see any of my supposed information.I didn’t consent to begin classes so I shouldn’t be expected to and will not pay the charges for a class that I was thrown into. Especially when as a student, an online student at that, I did what I was supposed to and wasn’t given the opportunity to choose what semester I wanted to begin classes or even what class to take.

I was told I was able to receive an unsubsidized loan of 9000 but when I received the stipend check it was for 1601 may I ask if you can break it down for me this isn't a complaint, I'm just curious on how the payments work for unsubsidized loans. this isn't a complaint i just would like to know how the payments break down and my name is Chelsie Embry I'm in my first year on my bachelor's in science. I have living expenses that need to be paid for I used the first check for school supplies and a computer. will I receive another check when the next semester comes in.

I started GCU in February of 2022. I agreed to pay 700 every two months for school fees because I had grants and veterans discount (which is something like $100 GCU took off, so they obviously do not appreciate veterans and I had to keep asking for the discount). This payment plan has never happened. I have been being charged 2k per class (every 7 weeks) and I am only contacted when they want money. I was told that if I filled out a student loan application that I can start school sooner, I was hesitant because I told the lady many times I do not want a loan. She promised me that she would not put a loan but they needed my information, so I did it. She took out a loan I did not approve of and nobody that works there took me seriously. Awful school. Awful experience. Most important, GCU does not care about the people fighting for their country (from my personal experiences).