by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Grand Canyon University first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at Grand Canyon University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 72% students making it past their freshmen year, Grand Canyon University has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Arizona, the average is 67.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Grand Canyon University | 72% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Arizona | 67.94% |
There were approximately 12172 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 36% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 43% of the students had graduated and after eight years 44% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Grand Canyon University graduation rate 43%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10138 | 36% |
| Six Years | 12172 | 43% |
| Eight Years | 401 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 15711 | 56% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 15711 students or 56% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 15711 students who did not complete their degree?
33 are still enrolled.
6815 transferred to another institution.
Grand Canyon University lost contact with the remaining 8596 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 33 | 0.2% |
| Transferred | 6815 | 43.4% |
| Dropped Out | 8596 | 54.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 7% |
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 35% |
| Hawaiian | 46% |
| Hispanic | 41% |
| International | 55% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 36% |
| Unknown | 39% |
| White | 47% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at Grand Canyon University are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Grand Canyon University represent 9.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Grand Canyon University graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 47% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Grand Canyon University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 46% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 47.82% |
1376 first-time / full-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
38 are still enrolled.
786 transferred to another institution.
Grand Canyon University lost contact with the remaining 552 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 38 | 2.76% |
| Transferred | 786 | 57.12% |
| Dropped Out | 552 | 40.12% |
First-time / part-time students at Grand Canyon University represent 6.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Grand Canyon University graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 16% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Grand Canyon University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 23.72% |
1493 first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
466 transferred to another institution.
Grand Canyon University lost contact with the remaining 1003 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 1.61% |
| Transferred | 466 | 31.21% |
| Dropped Out | 1003 | 67.18% |
Returning / full-time students at Grand Canyon University represent 12.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Grand Canyon University graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 58% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Grand Canyon University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 57% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 55.07% |
1527 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
911 transferred to another institution.
Grand Canyon University lost contact with the remaining 595 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 1.38% |
| Transferred | 911 | 59.66% |
| Dropped Out | 595 | 38.97% |
Returning / part-time students at Grand Canyon University represent 71.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Grand Canyon University graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 44% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Grand Canyon University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 43% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
11315 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
217 are still enrolled.
4652 transferred to another institution.
Grand Canyon University lost contact with the remaining 6446 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 217 | 1.92% |
| Transferred | 4652 | 41.11% |
| Dropped Out | 6446 | 56.97% |
