by Staff Reporter | Jan 18, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Psychology was a top major for Arizona college students this past year, per a new study.
This determination was pulled from data gathered concerning college major-related queries in Arizona and organized by monthly search volumes.
The top five college majors based on monthly searches were psychology, then music, then computer science, then communications, and then business administration.
The subsequent most-popular college majors searched were criminal justice, then accounting, then business management, then nursing, and finally social work.
The data was published by Flipsnack, a company that creates flipbooks.
Psychology ranks near the bottom for median wage early career and middling for median wage mid-career, per the New York Federal Reserve Bank’s Labor Market for Recent College Graduates.
The top but lesser popular college majors fared far better in terms of salary potential. Computer science sat at the very top, followed by a slew of engineering specialities: computer engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, and civil engineering. Just above miscellaneous engineering and general engineering sat physics.
Psychology’s median early career income potential was around $35,000 to $45,000 less than computer science, the major with the highest labor market outcome for early career wage. Psychology was projected to earn around $55,000 less for mid-career median wage than several of the engineering majors.
Reporting data from the state’s three public universities aligns with these findings. Psychology was a top degree for both Arizona State University (ASU), University of Arizona (UA), and Northern Arizona University (NAU), according to Niche.
ASU’s top five degrees based on the number of graduates in recent years, in order, included business and business support services, psychology, biology, computer science, and marketing.
Per their latest data published in 2024, the top majors for ASU Online were information technology, psychology, liberal studies, business administration, biological sciences, electrical engineering, software engineering, English, criminology and criminal justice, and nursing.
ASU offers over 400 undergraduate programs. They also boast an 89 percent success rate of graduates securing employment or a job offer within 90 days of graduation, with a median full-time salary of $55,000.
NAU’s top degrees include psychology, liberal arts and humanities, nursing, elementary education, and criminology.
NAU has over 150 undergraduate programs. The university reported a full-time employment rate of 45 percent, and 35 percent seeking employment. The median salary for these graduates sits at around $50,000.
UA’s top five degrees based on the number of graduates in recent years, in order, were psychology, liberal arts and humanities, intelligence, physiology and pathology, and nursing.
Likewise, UA has over 150 undergraduate programs.
UA reported a full-time employment rate of 56 percent, with a median full-time salary of $60,000. 25 percent reported continuing education or seeking continuing education, 15 percent reported seeking employment, and two percent reported part-time employment.
Grand Canyon University (GCU), a private university that consistently ranks up there with the state’s three public universities, didn’t report psychology as a popular pick among its graduating students. GCU’s most popular majors were nursing, business, human services, elementary education, and special education and teaching.
Psychiatrist and mental health services fell just outside the scope of top-five popularity for GCU graduating students.
GCU reported a 96 percent employment rate post-graduation, with a median salary of $62,000 annually.
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by Ethan Faverino | Jan 13, 2026 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Grand Canyon University (GCU) announced it will continue its historic tuition freeze on the Phoenix campus for the 18th consecutive year, maintaining the same rate through the 2026-27 academic year.
The private Christian university will keep campus tuition at $16,500 (before institutional aid) for the upcoming year—the same amount that has been in place since the freeze began in 2008-09.
This longstanding commitment provides students and families with rare cost predictability amid widespread concerns about escalating college expenses and the long-term value of a degree.
In the 2024-25 academic year, more than 92% of GCU’s traditional students received institutional scholarships totaling $181 million, reducing the average tuition cost to approximately $8,900. This figure is comparable to many public universities and significantly lower than most other private institutions.
National data from the College Board’s Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid Report showed the significance of GCU’s decision. Since 2008-09, average in-state tuition and fees at four-year public colleges have increased 81% (from $6,585 to $11,950), while four-year private institutions have seen costs rise 78% (from $25,143 to $45,000).
GCU’s housing costs also remain well below national averages. The university’s estimated average room and board cost for 2025-26 is $10,658, compared to $13,900 at four-year public colleges and $15,920 at four-year private institutions.
This affordability is notable given that nearly all GCU’s modern residence halls have been constructed in the past 15 years, with approximately 64% of rooms being single occupancy.
Since the tuition freeze began in 2008, the university’s traditional campus enrollment has grown dramatically from fewer than 1,000 students to around 25,000, while the campus itself has expanded to 300 acres.
During this period, the university has invested more than $1.8 billion in new degree programs, classrooms, laboratories, research spaces, residence halls, and advanced technologies.
“When you look at the rising costs in higher education, it’s not surprising that families are questioning the value of a college education,” said GCU President Brian Mueller. “By freezing our tuition for nearly two decades, we have been able to build trust and predictability without compromising our academics. Our campus has grown exponentially, and we are blessed that it has occurred without passing those costs on to students and without requiring state tax subsidies that public universities receive.”
Mueller emphasized the broader impact of the university’s affordability strategy: “Freezing tuition costs is one way that we ensure higher education is affordable to all socioeconomic classes. That increases diversity on college campuses (over 40% of GCU’s ground campus enrollment are students of color), makes higher education more accessible to first-generation college students, and helps prevent students from taking on large amounts of debt.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Dec 3, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Fresh off his 2025 graduation from Grand Canyon University, Caleb Foss is now helping senior leadership at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., where his team has brought in $58 million in secured funds over the last 30 days.
Foss serves as executive assistant to Lisa Dale, the center’s Senior Vice President and Head of Development. He graduated summa cum laude from GCU this year with a bachelor’s degree in government, with an emphasis on public administration, according to GCU News. During his time at the Phoenix-based university, Foss participated in the Canyon Civic Institute, a student organization focused on preparing members for careers in civic engagement and public service.
GCU News revealed that Foss traces his path to the Kennedy Center back to high school, when he first got involved in political media. At GCU, that interest turned into hands-on work as a finance assistant and fundraising consultant for Kari Lake’s U.S. Senate campaign.
In his senior year, he joined the university’s Canyon Civic Institute, and a CCI trip to Washington, D.C., opened the door to job interviews and networking that ultimately led to his current role. At the Kennedy Center, Foss supports operations, scheduling, and fundraising efforts under the leadership of Kennedy Center Chairman President Donald Trump, Kennedy Center President and Ambassador Richard Grenell, and the board of trustees.
In June, he helped raise more than $10 million at the red-carpet premiere of “Les Misérables,” an event attended by the president, vice president, and Cabinet members. Foss also attended a Stuttgart Ballet performance in October alongside Dale and Lake, now acting CEO for the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
“It’s truly an honor. Especially with the President of the United States being chairman of the center, it’s a great privilege to be involved and help make the Kennedy Center better than ever.”
Foss attributes his drive to public service to his faith. “My true passion for going into that originally stems from my faith, my passion to serve and to lead in different areas, especially within government,” he stated. “My Christian foundation in life has been essential for pointing me in the direction where I believe I can make a difference.”
In reflecting on the recent fundraising success, Foss noted, “In the past 30 days, we brought $58 million in secured funds for the Kennedy Center.” He explained, “It’s a big operation, and it’s really exciting to be a part of it. With the leadership of Chairman President (Donald) Trump, Kennedy Center President and Ambassador Richard Grenell, Lisa Dale, the board of trustees, and our entire leadership team, the Kennedy Center has accomplished so much in this past year, and we have many great things in store for the future.”
Foss described the “Les Misérables” event as pivotal: “The president and the vice president were there, along with many members of the Cabinet. We brought in a lot of new donors for the Kennedy Center and raised over $10 million that one night. It was an incredible experience.”
Offering advice to current GCU students pursuing similar paths, Foss said, “Communication and connection are essential. But most importantly, stick to your morals, values, and faith, especially. No matter what the goal is at that moment, stay true to what you believe in.”
He emphasized starting locally: “The best place you can get involved is in your local community first. Whether that’s in your church, your neighborhood, or something like the Canyon Civic Institute or other clubs or organizations at GCU, from there, the opportunities are endless.”
The Kennedy Center is a national cultural hub undergoing major renovation under President Trump, who provided $257 million in funding, and continues to host live performances and national events such as the Memorial Service for Charlie Kirk, amid these improvement efforts.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Ethan Faverino | Aug 20, 2025 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
In a unanimous decision, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has dismissed its lawsuit against Grand Canyon University (GCU) and its CEO, Brian Mueller, bringing an end to years of coordinated lawfare by former Biden administration officials targeting the university.
The lawsuit, previously dismissed by the United States District Court of Arizona on jurisdictional grounds, was fully resolved through a joint Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice.
FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, joined by Commissioners Melissa Holyoak and Mark Meador, issued a statement citing recent developments that influenced the decision.
The statement reads:
“This case, which we inherited from the previous administration, was filed nearly two years ago and has suffered losses in two motions to dismiss. These losses are compounded by recent events: Grand Canyon secured a victory over the Department of Education in a related matter before the Ninth Circuit; the Department of Education rescinded a massive fine levied on related grounds; and the Internal Revenue Service confirmed that Grand Canyon University is properly claiming 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation designation. In its reduced form, this case presents consumers very little upside relative to the cost of pursuing it to completion, especially given the developments chronicled above. We view it as imprudent to continue expending Commission resources on a lost cause. Because we have a duty to maximize consumers’ return on their tax-dollars investment, we have decided against pursuing this matter any further.”
GCU President Brian Mueller expressed gratitude for the FTC’s objective review, noting that multiple agencies and courts have consistently ruled in GCU’s favor.
“They threw everything they had at us for four years, and yet, despite every unjust accusation leveled against us, we have not only survived but have continued to thrive as a university,” President Mueller said. “That is a testament, first and foremost, to the strength and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and their families. Above all, it speaks to our unwavering belief that the truth would ultimately prevail.”
The FTC lawsuit was part of a broader, coordinated campaign by former Biden administration officials, including the Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to target GCU with duplicative investigations and lawsuits.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | May 20, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
In a dramatic reversal of policy from the days of the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), under Secretary Linda McMahon and President Donald Trump, rescinded a $37 million fine against Grand Canyon University with prejudice Friday. The decision scraps the largest fine ever levied against a university by the USDOE.
As previously reported by AZ Free News, Grand Canyon University launched an appeal challenging the enormous fine and allegations of advertising false degree costs. The university was supported by the Goldwater Institute, which launched its own lawsuit in February after the USDOE failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request to gain clarity on the fine against GCU.
In a statement following the decision, GCU President Brian Mueller described the dismissal as welcome, but unsurprising news.
“The facts clearly support our contention that we were wrongly accused of misleading our Doctoral students and we appreciate the recognition that those accusations were without merit,” he said. “GCU is a leader in innovation, transparency and best practices in higher education and we look forward to working cooperatively with the Department in the future – just as we have with all regulatory agencies.”
The USDOE dismissed the case in its entirety with neither findings, fines, liabilities, nor penalties of any variety. According to GCU, the USDOE, “confirmed it has not established that GCU violated any Title IV requirements, including the claim that GCU ‘substantially misrepresented’ the cost of its doctoral programs that was alleged by ED officials under the Biden Administration. The Dismissal stated unequivocally that ‘there are no findings against GCU, or any of its employees, officers, agents, or contractors, and no fine is imposed.’”
In a statement the University said, “The proposed fine action was, by far, the largest the Department of Education had ever levied against a university. GCU filed an appeal to ED’s Office of Hearings and Appeals, maintaining that the unsubstantiated accusations were gross mischaracterizations based on isolated, out-of-context statements from certain enrollment documents and that, in fact, GCU students receive robust information about the time, cost and credits needed to complete a doctoral degree throughout their enrollment and onboarding process. Moreover, GCU maintains that its disclosures surrounding continuation courses, which are common in higher education doctoral programs, provide more information than is legally required or that other universities typically provide. As such, GCU has consistently insisted that it would contest any fine amount – even $1, let alone $37.7 million.”
In a post to X, Arizona Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08) praised the dismissal writing, “The record-breaking fine imposed on Grand Canyon University (@gcu) was just one of many attacks by the Biden Administration on Christian organizations. Congressman Hamadeh applauds the Trump Administration’s decision to rescind the fine with prejudice.”
Congressman Andy Biggs made a similar post saying, “I’ve urged investigation into the outrageous fine since the moment it was handed down by the radical Biden-Harris regime. Thank you @POTUS and @EDSecMcMahon for working to ensure that the weaponization of government against @GCU isn’t allowed to stand!”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
