Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University reported $2.01 billion in revenue and $1.97 billion in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $97.72 went to program services, $2.15 to management and general costs and $0.13 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 98.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,731,242 (Head Basketball Coach). 380 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 37% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $1.97BFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $2.01BThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 97.7% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.1% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.1% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.21 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 0.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 98.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,731,242 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.09% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 380 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 3.3 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 5 of 8 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseInstructional program services - instructional program services include all activities directly tied to the educational services provided by the university. Gcu has approximately 123,000 enrolled students (on campus and online) in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level programs. Gcu provides scholarships, grants, and other financial assistance to eligible students based on financial need and academic measures
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head Basketball Coach Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $1,726,205 | $0 | $5,037 | $1,731,242 |
| Former Head Basketball Coach Former, 0.0 hrs/week | $1,000,000 | $0 | $0 | $1,000,000 |
| President Officer, 20.0 hrs/week | $799,495 | $0 | $0 | $799,495 |
| Provost Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $606,652 | $0 | $175,815 | $782,467 |
| Vice Provost Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $539,497 | $0 | $183,212 | $722,709 |
| CFO/Treasurer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $483,772 | $0 | $178,146 | $661,918 |
| Dean of Students Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $416,762 | $0 | $178,146 | $594,908 |
| CAO/General Counsel/Secretary Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $394,537 | $0 | $183,162 | $577,699 |
380 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Grand Canyon University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.5M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b8 · 5 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26Yes
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 512,802
- Volunteers Part I, line 6796
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Grand Canyon Education Inc Support services | $1,001,654,352 |
| Sodexo Inc & Affiliates Food service | $42,338,754 |
| Pono Construction LLC Construction | $33,179,165 |
| Gombos Leyton PC Legal | $4,130,390 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 85 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
67 private foundations reported grants to Grand Canyon University totaling $2.6M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Grand Canyon University's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Grand Canyon University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Grand Canyon University spent in FY2025, $97.72 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Harvard Management Private Equity CorpBoston, MA · revenue $2.00B · programs 100.0% · FY2025
- The George Washington UniversityAshburn, VA · revenue $2.04B · programs 90.9% · FY2025
- Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · revenue $1.97B · programs 95.1% · FY2025
- Trustees of Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH · revenue $2.26B · programs 85.6% · FY2025
- Banner-University Family CarePhoenix, AZ · revenue $1.96B · programs 90.5% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Grand Canyon University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Grand Canyon University reported that 97.7% of its $1.97 billion in expenses went to program services, 2.1% to management and general and 0.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Grand Canyon University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Grand Canyon University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,731,242, for the role of Head Basketball Coach (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Grand Canyon University get its money?
Of $2.01 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 0.6% came from contributions and grants (including 0.2% from government grants) and 98.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Grand Canyon University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 47-2507725 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202620419349300742 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202530459349300523 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202410459349301346 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202330519349300943 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201249349301460 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111249349301961 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 47-2507725: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.