Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon's entrepreneurship program starts graduates well below market—at $38,454, that's roughly $8,000 less than both the national and Arizona medians, landing in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's a significant gap, especially when University of Arizona places its entrepreneurship grads at $64,211 and even ASU hits the state median of $46,628.

The upside? Earnings jump 28% by year four, reaching $49,070—momentum that suggests these graduates eventually gain traction. The debt load is genuinely manageable at $27,000, slightly higher than Arizona's typical $23,962 but still representing just seven months of first-year income. With 43% of students receiving Pell grants, GCU serves a demographic where affordable debt matters.

For an anxious parent, the question is whether you're comfortable with your child starting their entrepreneurial career from behind. The early earnings gap could mean fewer resources during the critical startup years when capital and connections matter most. If your child is dead-set on this program, the reasonable debt won't trap them—but they'll need hustle and patience to catch up to peers who started with stronger early networks and higher initial earnings.