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Graduate applicants may be accepted at Grand Canyon University with an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU, with a 2.8 GPA or higher.
If you do not meet the GPA requirement, you may be eligible for admission with a graduate degree from an accredited, GCU-approved college or program and passing test scores:
Number of GCU doctoral students who defended their dissertations and graduated in 2023.
Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
GCU proudly welcomes doctoral applicants wanting to pursue higher levels of achievement in learning and research.
You may be accepted by meeting one of the criteria below:
We encourage prospective students to contact a university counselor who can help guide you through GCU’s admission process. If you are interested in becoming a student at GCU, browse through our Admission Requirements page to begin the process.
Grand Canyon University offers various doctorate programs to professionals interested in pursuing advanced learning opportunities. No matter the field or program you choose, you will be guided to develop independent research skills that may allow you to make original contributions to your field.
Prospective learners applying for admission into GCU’s Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership programs must have attained an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degree in education prior to consideration.
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) applicants must have an MBA or graduate degree with fundamental courses in accounting, finance and statistics, with a minimum 3.0 GPA or a passing grade. Graduate-level courses may be taken at GCU prior to enrolling in your doctoral program.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) applicants must have taken a statistics or research course with statistic fundamentals and received a “C” (or passing grade). Courses may be taken at GCU prior to enrolling in doctoral programs.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) applicants must hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from a CCNE-, NLNAC- or ACEN-accredited program and possess a current unencumbered, unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN). You also must have taken a statistics course and received a “C” (or passing grade).
Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) applicants must hold a master’s degree in healthcare administration or an applied healthcare profession with clinical or practicum experience. Or a master’s degree with demonstrated experience (minimum two years) in a healthcare profession.
Education Specialist program applicants must hold a master’s degree in education. You can choose to take specialty coursework focused on analyzing and developing K-12 leadership or aim to improve student outcomes by taking a deep dive into teaching and learning.
Lead, innovate and inspire in advanced graduate studies at GCU. Find the right doctoral program for you.
