GCU vs. UWest

Should I go to Grand Canyon University or University of the West? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GCU or UWest is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Grand Canyon University vs. University of the West comparison
Grand Canyon University University of the West College 3 College 4
Grand Canyon University
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Overview

GCU UWest
Location Phoenix, AZ Rosemead, CA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 101,816 164
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status For-profit Non-profit
Website gcu.edu uwest.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

GCU UWest
Tuition (In State) $16,500 $12,912
Tuition (Out of State) $16,500 $12,912
Room & Board $7,800 $9,656
Avg Net Price $21,939 $19,028
Avg Grant Aid $9,662 $8,190
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 80%

Admission

GCU UWest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 29,304 23
Admitted 22,818 18
Acceptance Rate 77.9% 78.3%Open
Enrolled % 37% 27.8%Open
Avg High School GPA - 2.43
Typical High School Grades - C+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jun 15, 2025

Academics

GCU UWest
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (56%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (2%)
  • Business (56%)
  • English and Literature (33%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)

Outcomes

GCU UWest
Graduation Rate 31% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 32% -
Median Student Loan Debt $18,750 N/A
Median Loan Payment $193 N/A

Diversity

GCU UWest
% Men 27% 47%
% Women 73% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 9%
% Black 18% 2%
% Hispanic 19% 41%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 34%
% Unknown Race 6% 0%

Students

GCU UWest
% In-State 25% 100%
% Out-of-State 74% 0%

Campus

GCU UWest
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Grand Canyon University is larger than than UWest based on total student enrollment (101,816 students vs. 164 students)

GCU vs. UWest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCU or UWest?

  • Grand Canyon University is 27.8% more expensive to attend than UWest for in-state tuition ($16,500.00 vs. $12,912.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.8% higher at GCU than University of the West ($16,500.00 vs. $12,912.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of the West than GCU ($19,028 vs. $21,939)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Canyon University are 23.8% lower than costs at University of the West ($7,800 vs. $9,656)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grand Canyon University than University of the West (98% vs. 80%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grand Canyon University students is 18% larger than aid received University of the West ($9,662 vs. $8,190)

GCU vs. UWest Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCU or UWest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UWest or GCU .

  • UWest has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than GCU (77.9%)

GCU vs. UWest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GCU or UWest? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UWest and GCU.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/