Message from the Dean | GCU College of Education

Discover how Grand Canyon University’s College of Education can help you become an impactful educator! Hear from Dr. Meredith Critchfield, dean of the college, about the strong support, rich history and practical training that GCU provides to future teachers. If you’re passionate about teaching young minds, GCU’s College of Education is here to guide you every step of the way.

Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is an Arizona-based private Christian university and one of the largest universities in the country.* We’re committed to delivering an affordable and transformative higher education that serves its students, the community and God.

Based in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona, GCU integrates a welcoming Christian worldview into our programs developed for many specific employment areas. You can choose from over 365 academic programs on our vibrant, growing campus and over 300 programs within our collaborative online learning environment (as of June 2025), giving you the personal freedom and support to earn your degree – from wherever you are.

At GCU, we work to develop servant leaders. We challenge and inspire you to become an innovative thinker, effective communicator, global contributor and the kind of changemaker who invigorates your community by placing the interests of others before your own. GCU aims to not simply teach but provide a path to moral, emotional and spiritual well-being in an environment that opens our hearts to students from all backgrounds and
denominations.

With an ongoing commitment to academic excellence, GCU is experiencing an exciting era of community impact and campus expansion that includes new residence halls, amenities, academic and athletic facilities and immersive, hands-on labs that allow for experiential learning.

Whether you’re looking to earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree, GCU believes that quality education should be accessible to all with a supportive graduation team behind you. Learn more about GCU’s programs, competitive tuition rates and scholarship offers from your dedicated university counselor who takes a personalized approach.

Find your purpose at GCU.

Visit http://www.gcu.edu or start your journey at GCU today: https://www.gcu.edu/rmi/ApplyNow

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*National Center for Education Statistics. May 2021. Fast Facts: Highest Enrollment. https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.... Retrieved April 14, 2023.

Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLCommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Approved and verified accurate by the Dean of the College of Education on Aug. 25, 2025. ©2025 Grand Canyon University