Grand Canyon University announces largest-ever graduating class, credits Christian worldview

Grand Canyon University announced it will confer degrees to 31,000 students this spring, the largest graduating class in the university’s history.

In a press statement released Tuesday, GCU revealed 31,104 graduates from the Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 sessions will receive their degrees.

The previous three years also averaged 29,000 graduates.

“This year’s record-breaking graduating class reflects the dedication of our exceptional students, the unwavering support of our faculty and staff, and our commitment to offering innovative educational opportunities across multiple delivery platforms,” said GCU President Brian Mueller.

GCU highlighted its multiplicity of learning options, including in-person, online, hybrid and accelerated pathways. Mueller explains that flexibility “allows us to connect with students no matter their life circumstances.”  

“More and more families are seeking these opportunities, especially when taught from a Christian worldview perspective.” 

Of the 31,000 upcoming graduates, the vast majority, 25,000, studied online.  

Despite the overall decline in college enrollment, traditional Christian schools such as GCU have thrived.  

Adam Kissel, Heritage Foundation’s visiting fellow on higher education reform, attributed their success to their Christian identity.  

“Students are drawn to colleges with a clear, distinct identity,” Kissel said in 2023. “Devoutly Christian colleges out-compete colleges that are Christian-in-name-only. If you come from a Christian household and you’re still a Christian and you want a particular Christian experience, you go to an explicitly Christian college more often than to a different kind of Christian college or a secular college.”  

As one of the largest Christian colleges in the nation, GCU isn’t just standing for faith but also adapting to the modern marketplace. The press release highlighted GCU’s new programs for rising market needs, such as construction electricians and the semiconductor industry.  

Semiconductors are used in a plethora of everyday devices ranging from smartphones to ATMs to washing machines to the internet.  

The United States gets most of its semiconductors from foreign countries such as Taiwan and China. However, the Trump administration is trying to bring key manufacturing capabilities back to the U.S.   

And other GCU students are leaving with degrees in high-need areas such as teacher education (8,500), first-time teachers (3,600), nursing (5,000) and social work/counseling/behavioral health (5,000).  

“Our focus remains on partnering directly with employers to help them address their workforce shortages, especially in critical sectors like education, healthcare, technology, engineering, social work, counseling and the military,” Mueller said.  

“While many universities have scaled back programs amid declining enrollments since the pandemic, GCU has introduced 148 new academic programs, emphases and certificates across our 10 colleges, all aligned with current labor market demands.” 

Photo: Courtesy GCU