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Naman Arora Study Abroad Course Specialist
Study Abroad Course Specialist
Grand Canyon University (GCU) is a private, for-profit Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona, within the Phoenix metropolitan area. Admissions are less competitive, with GCU's acceptance rate being 80–85%. It is a big school with approximately 65,000 undergraduates (both on-campus and online). Among the most popular programs at GCU are Nursing, Business Administration, Education, Psychology, and Health Professions. The six-year graduation rate is roughly 41%, and the alumni earn median salaries of around INR 41,00,000 or USD 49,000 ten years after graduation.
Liberty University is a private Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, within the Lynchburg metropolitan area. The admissions are fairly selective, with Liberty's acceptance rate being roughly 99%. It's among the biggest private universities in the U.S. with approximately 48,000 residential and online undergraduate students. A few of the most in-demand programs at Liberty are Business, Psychology, Nursing, Criminal Justice, and Education. Liberty's six-year graduation rate stands at approximately 47%, and graduates have median earnings of approximately INR 45,00,000 or USD 53,000 ten years after leaving school.
| Grand Canyon University | Liberty University | |
|---|---|---|
| ranking (overall) | # 395 US News 2024 | # 395 US News 2024 # 585 Forbes 2019 |
| Programs | UG Programs -38 PG Programs -7 | UG Programs -41 PG Programs -18 Doctorate Programs -3 |
| Acceptance Rate | 78.0 % | 99.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6 TOEFL-78 | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1040 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 16500 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 17010 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 22800 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 5950 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 13080 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 23790 Per Year |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.1/10 Read 3 reviews | 8.5/10 Read 3 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| exam scores | GMAT - 500/800GRE - 300/340IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 90/120 | Duolingo - 105/160IELTS - 6/9PTE - 51/90TOEFL - 61/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -17010 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Grand Canyon University | Liberty University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1949 | 1971 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 18:1 |
| Male:Female | 68% Male, 32% Female | 42% Male, 58% Female |
| Hostel | #Off campus (with family) - $5700 #On campus - $8550 #Off campus (not with family) - $8550 | #Off campus (with family) - $5618 #Off campus (not with family) - $8553 #On campus - $9619 |
| Weather |
Grand Canyon University vs Liberty University
Subject Strength & World Rankings (2025/2026)
Grand Canyon University (GCU), founded in Phoenix, Arizona, is renowned for its business, nursing, health sciences, education, and online programs. The institution does not feature in QS or THE global rankings, although it has a strong national presence as one of the largest private Christian universities in the U.S. Liberty University, situated in Lynchburg, Virginia, is yet another huge private Christian university, well-established worldwide for its theological education, law, business, and online education programs. Similar to GCU, it too is not ranked by QS or THE but is known nationwide for scale and price.
General Information
GCU has more than 100,000 students, the majority of them in online programs, while approximately 25,000 come to campus. Liberty University has more than 130,000 students, the largest Christian university globally, with approximately 15,000 campus students and the remainder online. Faith-based education is central in both schools, though GCU is oriented more toward professional and health professional education, and Liberty focuses more on religion, law, and conservative Christian education in addition to professional education.
Acceptance Rate & Admission
GCU has an acceptance rate of approximately 81%, accepting students with a mean GPA of 3.3 and ACT scores ranging from 19–25. Liberty University is somewhat more selective, with an acceptance rate of approximately 74%, accepting students with a mean GPA of 3.4 and ACT scores ranging from 20–27. Both institutions value accessibility while upholding moderate admissions standards.
Research Impact & Facilities
GCU and Liberty are not research-intensive. GCU is teaching-focused and applied professional training with excellent facilities for nursing simulation, business, and online learning. Liberty has heavy investments in law, theology, and aviation training, as well as large-scale online learning infrastructure. Both are compared to conventional research universities as teaching-inclined with small global research output.
Cost & Financial Aid
GCU is approximately $17,800 per year for tuition, placing it among the lower-cost private universities. Liberty University is a bit more expensive at approximately $24,910 per year for on-campus undergrads. Both universities provide financial aid, merit scholarships, and special discounting for faith-based and military students. GCU tends to be less expensive overall, while Liberty's greater expense is justified by its large campus and specialized degree programs.
Graduate Studies & Research
GCU alumni tend to find jobs in the field of nursing, education, healthcare, business, and social services with an average salary of $62,000 (INR 52 lakh) at mid-career. Liberty alumni tend to enter law, theology, business, education, and politics with mid-career salaries around $64,000 (INR 53–54 lakh). Liberty alumni are most prominent in religious, legal, and political fields, while GCU alumni are most prominent in health care and business.
