Contact: Bill Jenkins, 602-315-5566

PHOENIX, April 15, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- To help make a private university education a feasible option in these recessionary times, Phoenix-based Grand Canyon University (GCU) has announced that it will maintain a tuition freeze that it instituted in 2009 for its current and incoming students attending classes on its west Camelback Road campus through the 2011-2012 school year.

"Though our economy is seeing signs of recovery, frankly people are still wondering how they'll afford a college education especially in light of the proposed tuition increases at the state institutions," said Grand Canyon University CEO Brian Mueller. "The increase in our student enrollment speaks for itself - it's possible."

In September 2011 GCU will welcome approximately 2,300 new students, bringing its on-campus enrollment to 4,400.

Two years ago, when the University froze tuition at its current $16,500 rate and reduced room and board costs, GCU saw an immediate spike in freshman class enrollment of between 70 to 80 percent, a number that continues to increase as GCU enhances its campus with new classroom, housing, recreational and athletic facilities.

"For many years we've seen a mass exodus of top-notch students from Arizona high schools, looking out-of-state for their college career," Mueller said. "The enhancements we've made to our spiritual life, fine arts and athletic programs as well as our physical campus are prompting many students to now consider GCU their first choice for college.”

GCU has a substantial number of academic, spiritual life, fine arts and athletic scholarships available to incoming students with good high school or college academic credentials. By working in collaboration with GCU's enrollment counselors to leverage these scholarships as well as available grants and loans, prospective students can find that a private education is a realistic endeavor, and often less than attending a public or other private university, especially those out-of-state.

"We are blessed to be in a place where we can offer a private education for very close to the same cost as that of attending a public university," Mueller said. "We offer a high quality, personal and affordable solution for students who want a smaller environment, faculty mentoring and ample opportunities for involvement."

GCU cites its accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission and multiple programmatic accreditations, the ability to charge the same for both in-state and out-of-state students, as well as its small class size and full-time campus faculty (teaching assistants are not employed in the classroom) as major advantages in its private school experience.

Over the past 18 months the University has opened a new modern dorm (another is under construction), a new 55,000 square-foot student recreation center, a new classroom building and in just months will put the finishing touches on its new 5,000-seat arena to host men's and women's basketball as well as community events and Christian concerts.

"What is happening on this campus is, in a word, transformative," Mueller said. "We're in the midst of a $200 million campus facelift, we have students that are excited and involved, and we have faculty who make it a point to know their students' names and faces."

GCU is market-supported and does not rely on taxpayer dollars or public financing. The University's 100-plus acre campus offers more NCAA-competitive sports than any other institution in Arizona, including men's and women's basketball, volleyball, golf, swimming, cross country and tennis teams, as well as baseball, softball and wrestling. GCU also offers tremendous opportunities with it highly regarded fine arts program, including music, theater and dance.

About Grand Canyon University
Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is Arizona's private university. The prestigious Christian university is regionally accredited and is recognized as offering some of the best education programs in the nation. Grand Canyon University offers traditional campus-based and online doctoral, bachelor's and master's degree programs through the Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Education, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, College of Fine Arts and Production and the College of Doctoral Studies. GCU emphasizes individual attention for both traditional undergraduate students as well as the working professional. For more information about GCU, visit gcu.edu.