History at Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University's history program charges students roughly $32,000 in debt for first-year earnings of $44,000—that's substantially more than the $28,500 state median debt, though earnings start strong at the 95th percentile nationally. Here's the catch: while Arizona State's history programs deliver similar first-year earnings ($39,000) with less debt, GCU graduates see their earnings slide to $40,000 by year four. That 7% decline is unusual and worth understanding—history majors typically see modest growth, not backward movement in their mid-20s.

Within Arizona, this program lands at the 60th percentile for earnings, meaning GCU graduates start ahead of most in-state peers but not by the margin you'd expect given the premium debt load. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 remains manageable—graduates should be able to handle monthly payments—but you're paying more upfront than at comparable Arizona programs without a clear earnings advantage that justifies the cost difference.

The practical question is whether that extra $3,700 in debt buys your student anything meaningful. If they're committed to history and value GCU's Christian mission or online flexibility, the numbers work. But for families comparing Arizona options on pure financial terms, ASU delivers comparable earnings with significantly lower debt. That's the more economical path unless GCU offers specific program features your student can't find elsewhere.