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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES NONPROFIT STATUS OF GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY
Decision aligns with all other agencies and court rulings, affirming GCU's mission as the largest Christian university in countryPHOENIX, Dec. 15, 2025
About this update from Grand Canyon Education, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Decision aligns with all other agencies and court rulings, affirming GCU's mission as the largest Christian university in countryPHOENIX, Dec. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has formally recognized Grand Canyon University's status as a nonprofit institution of higher education, marking a significant milestone for the largest Christian university in the country.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nThe decision brings ED's classification into alignment with every other governmental and accrediting authority that previously affirmed GCU's nonprofit status — including the IRS, Higher Learning Commission (HLC), State of Arizona, Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education (AZPPSE) and NCAA Athletics.It is also consistent with two major rulings in GCU's favor:A unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in November 2024 concluding that ED applied an incorrect legal standard in 2019 when it denied GCU's nonprofit designation.A four-year IRS audit completed in May 2025 reaffirming the agency's original determination that GCU meets all legal requirements as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt Arizona nonprofit institution.Following the Ninth Circuit ruling, a bipartisan group of 10 Arizona Congressional members sent a letter of support urging ED to recognize GCU's historical nonprofit status.\"We are appreciative that officials within the current Department of Education adhered to the recent Ninth Circuit decision in our favor and conducted an objective and thorough review of GCU's operations in determining GCU's nonprofit status under the correct legal standard,\" said GCU President Brian Mueller. \"We look forward to working with the Department in a cooperative manner moving forward and being part of the conversation to address the many challenges facing higher education.\"GCU was founded as a nonprofit institution in 1949 and operated as such until 2004 when financial hardships required the university to take on an investor to avoid closing its doors. Gaining access to public capital sparked significant growth over the next decade, and in 2018 GCU lawfully and transparently returned to its historical nonprofit roots.ED's long-awaited recognition resolves years of confusion created by conflicting classifications. Nonprofit classification is expected to unlock many benefits for students an...