[13] Suffering financial and other difficulties in the early 21st century, the school's trustees authorized its sale in 2004 to California-based Significant Education, LLC,[14] making it the first for-profit Christian college in the United States.

[14] Clifford became managing director of the privatized institution, with the former board of trustees serving in an advisory role.

[18] A 2015 economic impact study revealed that the university was adding about $1 billion into the state's economy each year during its expansion.

[19] In February 2017, then Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said that the neighborhoods surrounding the university had experienced a 30% increase in housing values and a 30% decrease in crime rates.

[23] GCU's regional accreditation body, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), rejected the university's petition for conversion to nonprofit status in 2016, saying that the school's proposed strategy, particularly its plan to outsource some of its activities (such as curriculum development and student support services) to outside vendors, did not meet the criteria for such a conversion.

The government specifically says that GCU is a captive client to Grand Canyon Education and operating for the benefit of a for-profit company's shareholders.

[30][31] Grand Canyon University was alleged to have switched from for-profit to nonprofit status due to its yearly $9.2 million property tax bill.

[33][34] In 2021, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by GCU that claimed the university didn't receive all the coronavirus relief funds to which it was entitled because it was a nonprofit entity.

[38][39] In November 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled by unanimous 3–0 decision that the U.S. Department of Education erred in denying GCU nonprofit status by applying the wrong standard of assessment.

The department alleged that 78% of students graduating in those programs paid about 25% more than the cost that GCU represented, with much of the extra charges accumulating from additional "continuation classes" for completing the dissertation requirement.

In addition to the fine, the department imposed conditions on the school to continue participating in the federal student aid programs.

[44] In 2006, the college spent $150 million to renovate the campus, adding a brick promenade, an aquatics center, and a café.

[45] In 2009, GCU began work on a $60 million campus expansion project, including a 500-bed dormitory, a 55,000-square-foot (5,100 m2) fitness and recreation center, 125-classroom facility, food court and bowling alley,[46] and a 5,000-seat arena.

Highlights of the project included new facilities for the university's soccer, baseball, softball, tennis and beach volleyball programs.

[57] Grand Canyon University offers over 200 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs through its 10 colleges.

[59] Three months later, the nursing board announced it was pleased with the "tremendous improvements" the university had shown to addressing all concerns.

[61] In the second quarter of 2018, GCU nursing students posted a 95.65% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

[citation needed] Grand Canyon is primarily a member of the Western Athletic Conference, joining for the 2013–14 academic year.

[70] GCU has won 10 national championships with two coming at the NCAA Division II level[71][72] and eight as members of NAIA with three in men's basketball,[73] four in baseball[74] and one in women's tennis.

[84] The on-campus roller hockey rink at Grand Canyon University was fully funded by the NHL Arizona Coyotes.

[86] The championship game was held on April 20, 2024, at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn, Maine.