Record 2024 ~ As Grand Canyon University wraps up its 75th Anniversary school year, it is celebrating a major milestone - the largest number of graduates in its history. With a graduating class of 31,104 students for the 2024-25 academic year, GCU has seen a significant increase from the previous year's class of 27,000 students.

Out of the total number of graduates, 5,669 completed their studies on GCU's Phoenix campus while an impressive 25,435 studied online. The graduates were almost evenly split between those earning a baccalaureate degree (15,890) and those completing a graduate degree (15,214). This marks the fourth consecutive year that GCU has produced approximately 30,000 graduates.

The class includes students who completed their degrees in Summer 2024 and Fall 2024, as well as projected graduates from Spring 2025. To celebrate this achievement, GCU will be holding commencement ceremonies on April 23-25 for traditional students and April 29-May 2 for online students.

GCU President Brian Mueller expressed his pride in this record-breaking graduating class and attributed it to the dedication of the students, support from faculty and staff, and the university's commitment to offering innovative educational opportunities through various delivery platforms. He also highlighted how GCU's flexible approach allows them to connect with students regardless of their life circumstances.

More on The Arizonar

• "Lights Off" and Laughs On: Joseph Neibich Twists Horror Tropes in Hilariously Demonic Fashion
• From Stand-Up to Seductive Demons: A Conversation with Joseph Neibich on Lights Off
• Families Gain Clarity: Postmortem Pathology Expands Private Autopsy Services in St. Louis
• Beethoven: Music of Revolution and Triumph - Eroica
• Amy Turner Receives 2025 ENPY Partnership Builder Award from The Community Foundation

Mueller also noted that among the record-breaking graduating class are a significant number of students entering professions facing nationwide workforce shortages. This includes over 8,600 graduates in teacher education - with more than half being first-time teachers - as well as over 5,200 in nursing and social work/counseling/behavioral health.

He further emphasized GCU's focus on partnering with employers to address workforce shortages in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, technology, engineering, social work/counseling and the military. While many universities have scaled back programs due to declining enrollments during the pandemic, GCU has introduced 148 new academic programs, emphases and certificates across its 10 colleges, all aligned with current labor market demands.

Other highlights from the 2024-25 school year include a total enrollment of nearly 25,000 students on GCU's Phoenix campus and over 98,000 students studying online. The university's Center for Workforce Development (CWFD) also expanded its offerings and announced a new Intensive Manufacturing Specialist Pathway in partnership with TSMC and West-MEC. This pathway will equip students with the necessary skills and hands-on experience to excel in the semiconductor industry.

Additionally, GCU added three more Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program sites in Meridian, Idaho; St. Louis, Missouri; and Albuquerque, New Mexico - bringing the total number of sites to nine alongside its other locations in Arizona, Nevada and Utah. The university is also set to open one more site next month as it continues to address the country's nursing shortage.

More on The Arizonar

• Hubble Tension Solved? Study finds evidence of an 'Invisible Bias' in How We Measure the Universe
• Arizona: Governor Katie Hobbs, Governor Joe Lombardo, and Governor Gavin Newsom Release Joint Statement on Colorado River Deadline
• ConnectNeighbors.com's Nationwide Network of Neighborhood Websites Approaching 4 Million Visitors
• Boonuspart.ee Acquires Kasiino-boonus.ee to Strengthen Its Position in the Estonian iGaming Market
• Vines of Napa Launches Partnership Program to Bolster Local Tourism and Economic Growth

In addition to academic achievements, GCU received a five-year, $2 million grant from the T.W. Lewis Foundation to establish the T.W. Lewis Center for Student Success at the Colangelo College of Business. This grant will fund a full-time director, specialized curriculum, a speaker series featuring successful Christian leaders and expanded career connection programs for students.

GCU also opened a new police substation on 27th Avenue as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce crime in the area. Over the past decade, the university has invested $170 million along 27th Avenue on redevelopment efforts including a hotel, business incubator space, warehouse providing free household goods to families in need, learning lounge offering free tutoring and full-tuition scholarships to K-12 students, seminary program and restaurant.

Lastly, GCU celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a Week of Service in the fall, featuring over 1,000 opportunities to serve across 40 different ministries. The university also hosted its first ever Amethyst Gala, raising approximately $1.5 million to support its Five-Point Plan to transform the west Phoenix community it calls home.

As GCU concludes its 75th Anniversary school year with a record-breaking number of graduates and numerous achievements, it continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing quality education and making a positive impact in the community.

---

Show All News | Report Violation