Editor's Choice
Grand Canyon University
Editor's Rating
4.5
School Highlights
- GCU offers competitive tuition rates with significant scholarship opportunities.
- The university offers 300+ programs across diverse fields such as education, business, healthcare and technology.
- Flexible programs are designed for busy adults trying to balance work, school and family.
- Students are provided direct access to dedicated counselors, digital libraries and specialized online tutoring services.
Best Matching Program:
Students who pursue an education in this field can prepare for careers that center on helping clients improve their quality of life. Graduates may go on to help people with addiction and substance use disorders, family dynamics and trauma.
Grand Canyon University (GCU) is known for offering a flexible, online experience tailored to working professionals and having one of the largest online student bodies in the U.S.
Pros
- GCU offers significant tuition discounts for active-duty military, reserve, and their spouses.
- Asynchronous courses allow students to balance work and family while meeting weekly deadlines.
- Most courses are 8-weeks long and allow for faster degree completion compared to traditional semesters.
- Many students report high satisfaction with "approachable" advisors and instructors who are willing to help and provide guidance.
- The online learning management system (LMS) is frequently cited as intuitive and easy to navigate, even for those who aren't tech-savvy.
- GCU has a generous transfer credit policy allowing students to transfer up to 90 eligible credits toward a bachelor's degree.
- The university is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and many programs (like Nursing and Business) hold specific programmatic accreditations (CCNE, ACBSP), ensuring degrees are recognized by employers.
Cons
- Online learning at GCU requires significant self-motivation and responsibility to keep up with a fast-paced schedule.
- There is limited on-campus networking opportunities for online students.
- Many online courses rely heavily on discussion boards and reading assignments with minimal personalized instructor feedback.
Bachelor's Degree
- Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science
- Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science - Family Dynamics
- Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science - Infancy and Early Childhood Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science - Substance Use Disorders
- Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science - Trauma
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science - Childhood and Adolescence Disorders
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Forensic Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Performance and Sports Psychology





