They hired very sophisticated corporate planning lawyers so that they could call themselves a "non-profit" 501(c)(3) University but not a damn thing has changed. You can literally buy stock for the for profit arm of Grand Canyon University.
Here is an AI overview of the complex business arrangement setup that the lawyers concocted:
- The Split-Entity / OPM Model: In 2018, GCU split from its for-profit arm, Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (GCE), in an asset sale. However, GCE continues to act as a massive Online Program Management (OPM) and service provider.
- Long-Term Outsourcing Contract: GCE handles core operational functions for GCU—including marketing, admissions, technology support, and curriculum development for online programs—in exchange for a large share of tuition revenue under a multi-year contract.
- Dual Leadership Overlap: Brian Mueller serves as both the president of the nonprofit Grand Canyon University and the CEO of the publicly traded for-profit Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ: LOPE). (PS - the goal of the CEO of a publicly traded company is to make money for shareholders)
According to the 2025 10K filing with the SEC, 90% of the revenues from the "non-profit" arm of GSU flowed to the "for-profit" entity and the shareholders. (i.e. the revenues are not going to advance educational purposes...they are going to shareholders)
Synopsis - it's all a scam. The model for GCU is to turn profits by admitting as many students as possible, collecting as much dollars as it can from student lenders (including government backed loans) and paying out the money to its shareholders. Craft all of of the clever business arrangement you want; but what it boils down to is a money making endeavor.
