University Spirit and Traditions

75 Years of Purpose

GCU is a missional, Christ-centered university with an innovative and adaptive spirit. The university addresses the world’s deep needs by cultivating compassionate Christian community, empowering free and virtuous action and serving others in ways that promote human flourishing.

Throughout the past 75 years, we have taken measurable strides to transform into the university we are today and continue to look to the future to keep growing. From the first steps of developing our university and pioneering our online programs to the establishment of our athletics, college facilities and life-changing community programs, we have created a campus culture that can provide a place of joy, faith and acceptance for all our students.

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GCU Campus

For more than 75 years, our Phoenix campus has been an academic destination for countless scholars and industry leaders. See why GCU ranked #21 best college campus in America for 2025, according to Niche.com.1

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More About GCU's Campus Culture

The Student Experience

At GCU, you'll find everything you need to enjoy a full college experience and become immersed in the campus culture. Campus, online and evening students are equally valued members of our community and receive access to GCU events, academic support and learning resources.

 

Academic Programs

As of June 2024, GCU offers 350 academic programs, including 140 traditional programs and 284 online programs.

Student Clubs and Organizations

All GCU students can participate in 100+ clubs and organizations, as of the 2023-24 academic year. Find your people and discover your passions.

Local and Global Outreach

Students can volunteer to support those in need by providing various resources and services and participating in projects and mission trips.

This is the college experience I dreamed about. I'm in the program helping me work toward my dream career, and I am surrounded by people who are caring and very open within a Christian campus. I would recommend Grand Canyon University to my friends because of the quality of the programs, scholarships and how family oriented this university is.

Justin Atkins BA in Christian Studies with an Emphasis in Pastoral Studies

Top Annual Events

Every year, GCU offers exciting events for our students to show off their Lope pride and discover why these annual traditions are an important part of our campus culture. Prepare for the school year ahead, share your favorite parts of GCU with your family and friends, attend one of the most electric competitions of the year and demonstrate your college pride by attending our annual events.

 

There is a lot that occurs during your first week of school, which is why GCU organizes Welcome Week. Move to campus, attend orientation and connect with new and returning students at fun events like silent disco and midnight madness.

Participate in various exciting activities and connect with other Lopes at our annual homecoming celebration — the perfect way to feel fully immersed in GCU and show off your school pride.

Every fall, GCU hosts Family Weekend; an opportunity for you and your family to come together, partake in fun activities and witness all that goes into your academic journey at GCU.

One of the biggest student-led events, Lip Sync Battle gives students the chance to show off their creativity through thoughtful choreography, clever costumes and skilled lip-syncing.

Students at homecoming

 

GCU Athletics and Club Sports

GCU is home to 21 NCAA Division I athletics teams and had over 440 student-athletes in basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, track and field, golf, volleyball and more during the 2023-24 academic year. Our mission is to develop good Christian role models who embody the highest standards of excellence in all aspects of their lives. In addition to our Division I teams, we offer other athletics programs, including intramural sports as well as dance and cheer.

Blonde female GCU cheerleader gazes up at scoreboard in packed arena with Thunder dancing in front of her

 

We proudly offer over 40 club sports teams for men and women, including ice hockey, lacrosse, rugby, tennis, soccer, golf and more. Our club sports teams offer a competitive alternative to our Division I athletics teams while still competing at the national level.

 

Student athletes
NCAA Division I sports
Club sports teams

Meet Thunder – The GCU Mascot

Since 2008, Thunder has been GCU’s official mascot. This friendly antelope contributes to all the excitement that takes place at GCU. You’ll be sure to see him around at athletic competitions and other events on and off campus.

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GCU Havocs

The GCU Havocs are the epitome of school pride — attending all athletic events while creating an energetic, positive, spirited environment for sports fans, students and players. This extraordinary lively student section comes together to heighten the already exciting experience of attending GCU sporting events.

Our Sports Facilities

GCU prides itself on providing sports facilities for our students, athletes and visitors. Global Credit Union Arena is a 7,000-seat, nearly 135,000-square-foot sports and entertainment venue, used to host numerous events for students and the community. GCU’s stadium is a modern 6,000-seat, 41,852-square-foot soccer stadium of natural turf that also accommodates the GCU Student-Athlete Academic Center.

Discover GCU

Prospective students and families are invited to visit GCU and discover all that we have to offer. Come take a tour of our campus and experience what it's like to be part of the Herd.

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Ready to take the next step with GCU? Complete this form to connect with a university counselor.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About GCU

Browse through some commonly asked questions and answers about our university and learn more about what makes being a Lope so special.

GCU’s men’s and women’s basketball seasons typically begin in early November, running until tournament time at the end of March.

In Fall 2023, GCU had over 24,400 bachelor’s-level students, over 700 master’s-level students and nearly 40 doctoral-level students studying either on campus or in evening cohorts.2

GCU students are known as the antelopes, or Lopes, with Thunder the antelope as their proud mascot.

The majority of GCU’s athletic teams participate in NCAA Division I. The university is a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

There are many special aspects of GCU. Along with our exhilarating sporting events, beautiful desert campus, vibrant community and academic excellence, we pride ourselves on teaching students to strengthen their faith and embrace their Christian values. We believe in providing educational opportunities for all on a campus that offers everything students look for in a memorable college experience.

As a student on campus, you will have the opportunity to experience all that college life offers, such as year-round activities and events, groups and clubs to connect with others, and an environment that supports personal, professional and spiritual growth. Academically, GCU sets you up to gain a well-rounded academic experience, providing you with access to knowledgeable, supportive faculty, various resources and other learning tools to ensure you gain the most out of your studies.

College traditions aren’t just an excuse to have fun; they serve an important purpose for university students. They create shared experiences that students, staff and alumni can hold dear and talk about for future generations. They also help build and maintain a collegiate community, which is a critical part of the college experience.

 

1 Niche.com. (2024). 2024 Best College Campuses in America. Retrieved October 2024.

2 Includes all traditional students who have a last date of attendance at least three weeks into the Fall 2023 semester or participated in a campus evening class in September or October of 2023. Includes degree-seeking and non-degree studies.

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