Grand Canyon University [GCU]
Reviews and Complaints

My wife, Imane Frazee, is in the master's degree program in Early Childhood Education. She has been attending online and has completed four courses with a 4.0 average. We pay for each class, out of pocket, without complaint, in full, each time.

My wife started her last course, 520, and in less than a week she needed to withdraw due to her being sick. We were told that she would be receiving a full refund. Within a couple weeks later, she signed up again for the same course but was now told that she needed to pay an extra $120.00 for "books." That was never mentioned before. But we went ahead and paid the $120.00 along with more than $1,500.00 for the class tuition (whatever that amount was). So, we in fact paid for the class in full. Now we hear from my wife's counsellor that she is some $350 dollars in the arrears for monies owed and she claims that we only paid $1,100. for tuition. I have back statements to the contrary.

My wife would like to continue her education there; however, she needs a break from it for a couple of months for personal reasons. There are a ton of universities available for online courses and if this mess is not straightened out satisfactorily, we will seek another university to continue her education.

So first off any extra money, you receive is mailed out by check not direct deposit. GCU does not offer direct deposit according to the persons spoke with. To continue I am confused my FED DL UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN 2021-22 was $10,142.00 in which $2,127.12was taken for EDU-525 - Foundations in Elementary Education Graduate Studies to leave me with($8,014.88). So then I receive a Stipend - D UNSUB 2021-22 payment ($4,960.64) leaving me with ($3,054.24) balance but crazy enough I cant find what I was charged for. Below this information shows three more class charges added ELM-500, SPD-500, and ELM-510 each for about 1500.00 but still have no clue why I was given an unknown charge. This continues throughout my student ledger up until this course set on 9/29 in which I only have the FED DL UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN 2022-23. I see no FAFSA information unless that is the stipend but I do see charges for my transcript (8.00) in which I paid using my credit card, so I am being charged twice. To add on I was sent a bill today (10/13/2022) for the class that I already started POS-500 - U.S. and Arizona Constitutions for Teacher Candidates. I am confused why I have this bill but it shows in my ledger it was paid by my loan. This school has no communication and councilors are being changed too often in one year (I am on my 3rd one) which I did not ask for a change. They do not tell you that you will need to do practicum and student teaching, by the way, none of these are paid and hours can go from 6-60 a course for practicum and 4 months plus for student teaching. Thanks, GCU for taking my money.

Over 4 years ago I began my journey to gain my Elementary Ed/Special Ed degree. Over the next 3 years, things went fairly well. Other than my mother passing from cancer, my father passing 5 months later unexpectedly, and being told it was mandatory to take an additional math class for my Utah license. After several months of arguing with this person, I was told by the Utah State Board this is not accurate. IF I would need additional math, I would have 3 years to complete the requirement. Getting closer to my graduation, for about a year, I told people I would be done in March of 2022. September of 2021, student teaching was added to my curriculum. When I asked about it, I was told she does not know why it wasn't there before, however, this has always been the case. That put my student teaching in the fall of 2022 because student teaching is only twice a year.

Well, nothing I can do about it, so now, I will graduate the end of 2022. (mind you my goal has always been to gain my degree by the time I turn 60... that is November 2022) I am told in December 2021 I must pass my 'Content Exams' before I can do student teaching. Oh this must be done before March. Because you must pass before a deadline of 4-5 months before the scheduled student teaching. (By the way, Content Exams are Praxis Exams. I did not understand this information. I knew I had to pass the praxis before my license, but Arizona, (GCU) requires this before you can do student teaching). Well, 5 exams total, I did not pass all my exams. I have retaken them several times. I finally passed 4 of the 5. After the initial take/fail, you can retake right away. However, after that you have to wait 28 days. Here I am getting ready to take my final and last exam to do my student teaching in January, mind you a year later than expected, only to be told because the cutoff date months before student teaching, I now have to wait until fall of 2023. Almost 2 years longer than anticipated. At one point during all this, I figured I will do the non licensing degree. But, Oh wait they changed the requirements, which means I will still be in school another year, which with the degree change, I am not eligible for more funding. Right now I owe over $300 because my funding was returned when they told me I had to wait until January 2023. I am no longer considered 'in school' because of the time between my last class in March and student teaching in January. I am supposed to begin paying on my loans because I am no longer a student. What about my teach grant, employed as a teacher for 3 years, my cutoff date is not accurate because I do not have my degree?

My employer is ready for me to do my student teaching at any time. They were ready a year ago. We are a small town and have only 1 elementary school. My biggest argument, had I KNOWN, fully understood the ramifications of passing 'Content Exams' aka "Praxis Exams', I would have started 3 years ago. I have test anxiety and dyslexia. Especially the math, I would have taken care of while I was in that class.

All GCU care about is money that's all they want. They claim to be military friendly but charge you completely if course is not dropped before start date. And they don't care as they try to get Tuition Assistance money and then charge you the difference the military didn't cover. Military personal always have to change and drop classes as things revolve around a high unit tempos. I had a death in the family and had to drop a course shortly after the class starting. Now they want to send to bill to collections to get their money for an online course i wasn't able to participate cause the loss of a family member. DO NOT ATTEND THIS SCHOOL! ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE MILITARY! BE WARNED!

I was suspended from Grand Canyon University because a professor didn’t grade an assignment despite me turning it in. I went to my counselor for an appeal & my counselor ignored me twice. From there I was given multiple emails that I was academically and financially cleared. The week of September 8th, I was dropped from my class, a week after being in the class & being told that my gpa is below the satisfactory gpa. The school won’t change my grade because they can’t look at the assignment that I turned in since it expired back in December. I did everything I was supposed to do to get it fixed but my counselor didn’t do anything, neither did my professor & the counselor manager said I still going be suspended until December despite not doing anything wrong and doing things by the handbook.

Hello,

I have a grade issue that need to be resolved. The instructor emailed my final grade months ago, added in the gradebook but it did not reflect on my transcript. I have been reaching out with no response. David Seamans have not helped me, his supervisor never answers the phone. I called for the Chancellor's office to contact me, no response, I also emailed the supervisors of the instructor and there has not been any reply or help given. Online students need to feel cared about and receive the response they deserve, Currently, GCU has scheduled me to retake a course I have passed.

I attend Grand Canyon University and have been struggling with them regarding their verbal and written promises and statements and withholding money, including scholarship money. They have repeatedly given me incorrect information and my account is rarely correct. This has been ongoing since my undergraduate studies from [protected]. When I graduated in 2021 after completing my Bachelor's degree, they immediately offered me a tuition "scholarship". I had maintained a high GPA, despite being homeless the entire time and having suffered a life-changing work injury in 2020.

I maintained a 4.0 GPA through my first academic year, which was June 2021-March 2022. In January, I began asking questions to ensure my funding was going to be correct, as I had been offered a job and possible housing, but had to ensure I was going to be able to support myself. GCU had dragged their feet with a scholarship from OSAC in 2020, blaming it on the wildfires, so I wanted to ensure that everything was set.

I was repeatedly asked to provide 2019 tax information in order to proceed with my academic year, asking for spousal tax information, when GCU was aware that I had fled a domestic violence situation. GCU also continued to say that they did not receive my requests for disability accommodations, despite several attempts. This continued through March 2022 when I was told that I had to begin the next academic year in order to jumpstart my financial aid. This spiraled into a horrible situation where they were asking for money from me and for me to re-file my taxes and re-file for student aid. A week into my class, I had a grand mal seizure and asked for an accommodation that I thought was already in effect. The instructor instead stated that I needed to alert her more than an hour before the assignment was due in order to request an extension.

There was no support from the student supports counselor, who often can't even pronounce the university name or state what he's calling about when on the phone. I ended up withdrawing from GCU in March and taking a medical leave due to the continued stress. When I attempted to restart my classes, I was forced to reapply for financial aid under a new year and then was quoted the same amount of funding that I had received the prior year. I agreed to this, as it allowed for money to survive while attending school. Then, I was offered another scholarship from OSAC, and figured that amount into my financial budget, as housing and surviving in Oregon is a challenge.

At this time, my account still does not read properly. They cut my funding by over $8,000 after quoting me larger amounts, only to blame it on the scholarship that should not have been counted, as funding should have been applied for before the scholarship was even awarded. This has caused me financial hardship. When I contacted the OSAC office to inquire as to whether the check had been sent to GCU, they informed me that I should contact a lawyer. That was when I was also told by a potential employer and other employees of the State of Oregon that my degrees from GCU are likely "not worth the paper they're printed on". This is crushing, as I have struggled to pursue my education through multiple challenges, including the pandemic and forest fires.

I have multiple screenshots, emails and account details as well as voice mails regarding this situation. They are still today holding my scholarship funding that should have been released to me two weeks ago, and was stated that it would be rushed last week. I have repeatedly been told to "relax and let the system work itself out" and even dismissed by their "resolution team". There is not a single person at GCU who is from the financial aid office and can speak to a student. My account is still reading the wrong dates for the currently academic year and still reading a non-title IV funding, which impacts my status.

Having graduated with an accounting degree from a SUNY University in upstate New York, I am well aware of how the accounting department in most universities work. Online students through GCU were given very little assistance through the pandemic and were awarded less than $400, while the university was awarded huge amounts of money and sent emails during the pandemic stating that they would work for their online students and assist if necessary.

2

Dear Concerned Individuals,

My name is Tristan Sanders and I just recently started at GCU in the Masters Program with a masters in Science in leadership with an emphasis on emergency management and homeland security but when I look at my class schedule it doesn’t match up at all to what I am trying to be at GCU I feel like the responses to my issues have been vague and I feel like with all the concerns coming to light about GCU I find it very concerning that they would do their students that way especially considering that it is a Christian university. I don’t really think it is fair that they get to prey on young minds and take advantage of their endeavors’ and not really give a lot of insight about GCU.

On August 24, 2022 at 11am, I spoke to a lady name Connie, who is a counselor there about which classes to take in order to end up at GCU for medical school. I explained to her I originally went there asking about the classes and the lady there said it would be easier to just attend there for freshman year. As I was explained to Connie which classes I wanted to take, she replied to me saying majority of the students in medical school ranges from 25-28 and she doesn't feel it would be a smart idea for me to apply or asked me a silly question such as, "do you even know how long the schooling would be?" Of course, I replied, "yes, 10-15years." I am older and she tried insulting me because of my age and a career change, so now I decided not to finalize my registration with GCU and will be attending to ASU. I was looking forward to attending to GCU but after speaking to a counselor with such negativity because of my age, I can only imagine how the educators would be.

I went into this school as a freshman this year and I attended my first athletic event tonight. I was really excited until I saw how the Havoc student section treated the other team. I found the sportsmanship of the Havocs to be incredibly lacking. When the other team was serving, the entire student section was booing and being loud to distract them. When the other players were announced, all the students turned their backs on the players and said "Who's that" after each name. As a missional community, I was disappointed in the lack of love shown to the other team. I can only imagine what the actual team, the Idaho Vandals, felt like. And while it may have been in the spirit of good fun or competition, I think the section took it too far in how they treated the players. It was unkind and not in any way showing God's love to them. If this university wants to live up to its mission, in which their website explicitly says that they are "committed to the foundational beliefs that distinguish Christianity from other worldviews", then they need to show that Christianity is a religion meant to show love to others. The testimony that was displayed throughout the student section tonight was not one that reflected well on Grand Canyon and I'm sure it didn't convince the Idaho Vandals that they were loved and cared for.

My first appeal with Grand Canyon University was approved by the college by of education. I received the letter showing it was approved to move into the original program to continue with just student teaching only. At the time my financial aid was exhausted and advised the university counselors that I needed to apply for grants and or scholarships. Because of this I will be moved to the next session of student teaching. I was never contacted to begin and when I called Grand Canyon, they said it expired. I reviewed the letter and there is no expiration date on the letter. I was told that I would need to apply for a new appeal to go back to the original program I started in. That appeal was denied because they stated they have updated the program several times. The university counselor stated I would have to take 45 additional credit hours which is equivalent to two years if I was to return. I find this appalling especially when I should have only 1 course left of student teaching but because of issues with Grand Canyon University they stated I have to take 2 which I find this unfair and unprofessional since I already completed session 1. I don't have the time to complete another 2 years or do I have the financial means for it? I am already over 65,000 in debt and find it reasonable to just complete my student teaching.

My daughter was quoted $9,330.12 for a semester at GCU. The counselor encouraged her to pay a $250 housing portal fee. She did. Then she received the REAL cost per semester, $13,740. 26. BIG difference wouldn't you say? SO now my daughter gets a bill for $350 for canceling her housing. Suspicious isn't it? How GCU makes $600 by low balling the estimate for a semester of school and then charges to cancel for a school she could NEVER have afforded in the first place.

I am attending the ABSN (Accelerated Bachelors of Nursing) this fall of 2022 and was told there would be no religious exemptions for the flu shot. I have a religious exemption for COVID-19 as well as the flu shot that has been approved by Banner Health (where the clinicals are held) but GCU a CHRISTIAN university is claiming that I cannot fill out a religious exemption. I would have never thought I would have an issue filing a religious exemption with GCU. It is against my religious and medical rights.

Good morning,

I am inquiring as to whom I should speak with about Grand Canyon University College of Doctoral Studies?

The school in reference, Grand Canyon University, has made false or misleading statements about the school's educational programs and graduation ability for their doctoral learners. GCU is negligent in providing an adequate and quality educational experience. The school did not provide the proper and sufficient support necessary for their doctoral program. I had several months left in my program to which I was denied completion prior to my official allotment to complete their program. During this time I could have completed the remainder of the anticipated research, and I was revoked my opportunity. I was falsely guided to complete a program to which I did not. Grand Canyon University states that GCU doctoral programs can be completed in 60 credit hours.   GCU has structured the programs to require at least five additional research continuation courses. GCU failed to ensure that my dissertation chair and committee members provide prompt and meaningful feedback. The federal funds I received to use towards my education at GCU did not result in my receiving a degree.

Student debt impacts borrowers over time by raising debt burdens, lowering credit scores and ultimately, limiting the purchasing power of those with student debt. AA fair outcome would be to have GCU be held accountable for their actions and I be pardoned from the accrued debt due to their negligence.  

Thank you,

Ms. Shannon Finley 

I started GCU on 06/20/22 and my Financial aid was already approved and processed like a month prior to my start date. So I thought there would be no hold ups... Well, I was wrong. Its been over two months in and one course completed and still no money has been given to me from the college, Financial aid paid them already and they made sure to pay themselves. I still haven't gotten any money. Only the run around and nasty, rude counselors that lie and lie some more. My grades are becoming affected from the stress.. Who can I speak to to make them pay me already? I thought they had like 45 days from the day I started class to pay me? Also on my account it shows excessive charges that I can not make any since of, like for one course it shows me paying tuition twice.. but nobody is trying to explain any of the charges.

August 10, 2022, I have been trying to study in the building one study room 1-231 B but every day I come it has the cleaning sign when one is present in the room, I have been going to other rooms this whole semester and even the one next door to it. I have seen the janitors have lunch in this room every day that I am here trying to study and I understand they need a place to eat but they continue to hog the room and place the cleaning sign up to save the room all semester. Until today when all the rooms were taken, I decided to take down the sign and I did move the trash can outside because no one was in the room. An hour later the janitor can in (we asked to get her name and she said she did not want to tell us her name) and asked me if I took it down, I said yes and apologized, and proceeded to argue with me. I told her this is a place for studying I understand you need to clean and I can leave for a short time but I expect to get this room back. And that they have been having the sign-up all semester and no one has used it but them because they keep leaving the cleaning sign-up. How unfair it is to not be using this room when people need a place to study and told me to not do it next time. She told me she keeps the room because she has to clean the other classrooms and wants to get to it later. It does not make sense she should clean the study room and the classrooms and does not need to keep the room as a storage closet, students need a place to study since we are the ones paying for it.

Date of issue: 8/5/2022

Time: 6:30 pm Eastern Time.

Class:21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy

class assignment: First Draft: Expository Essay

I was accused of plagiarizing my assignment and I did no such thing. When I submitted my assignment I did not see loop frighting that my assignment was similar to any ones. After I got feedback from the teacher she showed me that my assignment was 96% similar to another students. I was not able to present my point of view and immediately the teacher gave me a zero and stated she will report me for plagiarizing. I have no history of plagiarizing and I have no intention of plagiarizing. I am new to college and I used my library as my proof for resource and citation and the assignment. I also have had issues with her scoring below on my weekly discussion post. I was not able to submit my discussion post several days throughout the week but in fact submit my discussion post all in one day 8 to 10 different responses to my classmates and I was only awarded five points. I started this class explaining the IMA stay at home mom of two babies and I am trying to gain my degree to better my life for my kids. I feel there is no empathy and understanding or me being able to prove my case that I did not do what I was accused of from my teacher. I would like the opportunity to redo the assignment and possibly be issued a different teacher because I feel the teacher is targeting me and bullying me.

GCU required me, a doctoral student, to take excessive dissertation continuation classes for dissertation completion. When I wanted to extend a 60 day leave of absence, due to a financial inability to continue payments for an eight week course, which do not provide credit, I was denied. The dissertation review process is time consuming and requires time to do the work without taking inane dissertation continuation courses. In fact, for me, it has delayed the process. I requested a certificate of course completion, all but dissertation (ABD), and was denied.

I was told if I could not pay the tuition fees for continuation dissertation classes (which was not included in the information the recruiter provided) I could file for a leave of absence (LOA) (which was completed and approved by GCU for 60 days), become inactive, or withdraw. A student services counselor told me (via a GCU recorded conversation by phone the I would have a one year window to become active, or they would withdraw me. GCU would not be of anymore assistance (please see *).

There is more, but not in this message.

Thank you (all) for your time.

*Supporting documentation could not be attached and is available: Emails