Grand Canyon University Sees Enrollment Surge

While most other for-profit educational colleges are facing shrinking enrollment, Grand Canyon University has grown its enrollment by 12.4 percent in the past year.

The university’s Phoenix-based parent Grand Canyon Education Inc. reported 44,400 students as of June 30, up from 39,500 during the same period a year earlier, according to its second quarter results filed today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

While GCU President and CEO Brian Mueller expected to have 7,000 students on its physical campus this fall, those estimates were off a bit, with 6,500 students. “We turned away over 500 that weren’t as strong academically or not in a strong position from a financial perspective,” he said.

While hammers are flying at GCU’s Phoenix campus for more dorms and classroom space, it may expand to Massachusetts. Its foundation is one of two finalists in the running to receive a donation of a 217-acre campus in Northfield, Mass.

Mueller told analysts in an earnings conference call today that he expects to hear if GCU will get that donation within the next couple of weeks.

If GCU wins it, Mueller said he would invest $10 million into that new campus during the second half of 2013 to get it ready for a fall 2014 opening.

“We would start building dorms,” he said. “There are enough classrooms. There are 40 buildings on that campus. We are further ahead there than we were here when we started this.”

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Grand Canyon University is a Proud Member of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce.