Lopes up: Grand Canyon University adds nearly 10,000 new campus-based students

PHOENIX – Grand Canyon University will start classes Tuesday with nearly 10,000 new campus-based students, the Phoenix school’s largest incoming class ever.

About 9,700 students are enrolled at GCU for the first time, up from 9,000 newcomers a year ago, the private Christian university said a press release.

“Of our 9,700 new students this year, more than 2,800 of those will be first-generation college students,” Brian Mueller, the school’s president, said in the release.

“That’s significant and is a very positive part of the GCU story.”

Total enrollment for the campus at 35th Avenue and Camelback Road is now approximately 25,000, about 1,500 higher than last year.

“That’s a reflection of the quality and relevancy of our academic programs, low class sizes, affordable campus tuition rates that have been frozen for 14 straight years, a campus that is rated in the top 20 in the country, and the vibrant Christian community atmosphere that we are known for,” Mueller said.

GCU also has an online program with about 90,000 students.

The new school year brings three more dormitories to campus, including two new six-story apartment-style residence halls, Turquoise and Oak Creek.

Joining them is Cypress, which was previously used for visiting prospective students.

GCU says 17,500 students will be living in its 29 residence halls this semester.

“Even with three additional residence halls on campus this year, which we thought might provide some cushion for on-campus housing, we will be completely full due to the number of students wanting to be part of the campus environment,” Mueller said.

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