Arizona gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson said that the U.S. Department of Education’s recognition of Grand Canyon University (GCU) as a nonprofit institution is a significant achievement for students, families, and higher education in the state.
“The decision by the U.S. Department of Education to finally recognize Grand Canyon U’s nonprofit status is a major victory,” said Karrin Margaret Taylor Robson. “After a six-year fight, GCU has prevailed. The facts are clear. I applaud Grand Canyon University’s leadership for standing firm.”
Grand Canyon University spent six years pursuing federal acknowledgment of its nonprofit status following its separation from its publicly traded parent company in 2018. According to recent developments, the U.S. Department of Education’s decision in December 2025 concludes a long-standing dispute over classification and funding eligibility.
With an enrollment exceeding 118,000 students, including 28,000 on campus, GCU is recognized as the largest Christian university in the United States. The transition to nonprofit status enables the institution to reinvest tuition revenue directly into academic programs and student resources.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Arizona Corporation Commission, and Higher Learning Commission had all previously acknowledged GCU’s nonprofit status before the Department of Education’s decision. This latest development brings federal and state designations into alignment.
Robson is a Republican business leader and former member of the Arizona Board of Regents. During her 2022 gubernatorial campaign, she focused on education reform, border security, and economic development as essential priorities for Arizona’s future.
