Join the Ingram Honors College
Welcome to the Ingram Honors College
The Ingram Honors College at Grand Canyon University is home to a vibrant community of ambitious learners seeking a robust undergraduate experience. Inspired by the generosity and servant-leadership of Sheila and Mike Ingram, whose commitment to faith, entrepreneurship and philanthropy reflects the very ideals we cultivate, our honors community thrives on purpose-driven learning.
Applied Learning
In the Ingram Honors College, learning extends far beyond the classroom walls, and students are empowered to translate theory into practical application. The college offers enriching opportunities to bright and passionate students interested in applied experiential learning opportunities related to local and global community engagement, service and transformative leadership. In Fall 2025, the Ingram Honors College had nearly 3,000 students, with over 960 new students and over 2,030 returning students. (See disclaimer 1 )
Philanthropy and Leadership: The Ingrams
Sheila and Mike Ingram have built their lives around entrepreneurship, faith and a deep commitment to serving others. Mike is the founder and chairman of El Dorado Holdings, Inc., a prominent real estate development company based in Arizona, established in 1987. He has significantly influenced the Phoenix metropolitan area through various large-scale residential and commercial projects.
Sheila has been an advocate for numerous philanthropic efforts, including crisis pregnancy centers, neighborhood ministries, arts organizations and charitable foundations. In both 2021 and 2022, she and Mike served as co-chairs for Childhelp, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting neglected and at-risk children.
The couple enjoys a large family that includes six children, 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. They often spend their time attending Phoenix Suns, GCU basketball and Diamondbacks games, as well as going on hunting and fishing trips.
What Benefits Make the Ingram Honors College Experience Exceptional?
Beyond the classroom, students can engage in a dynamic, high-achieving community through honors clubs, leadership roles and exclusive events, supported by an academic facility and expanded residential community designed for collaboration and connection. This integrated environment can foster meaningful relationships with peers, faculty and industry leaders. Ingram Honors students can also benefit from priority housing selection and access to internships, global studies, service-learning projects and mission-focused travel opportunities.
Professional development remains a cornerstone of the honors experience, with networking and hiring events, workshops and connections to national honors societies. Students gain early access to research, mentorship and applicable experiences that can help distinguish them in competitive graduate and career pathways. Together, these opportunities empower students to explore boldly, learn intentionally and prepare for lives of purpose and impact.
">Students in the Ingram Honors College experience a distinctive blend of academic, professional and community opportunities that can enrich their journey from day one. Smaller class sizes foster deeper discussion and personalized attention, complemented by dedicated academic and career advising to guide their pathways.
Beyond the classroom, students can engage in a dynamic, high-achieving community through honors clubs, leadership roles and exclusive events, supported by an academic facility and expanded residential community designed for collaborationand connection. This integrated environment can foster meaningful relationships with peers, faculty and industry leaders. Ingram Honors students can also benefit from priority housing selection and access to internships, global studies, service-learning projects and mission-focused travel opportunities.
Professional development remains a cornerstone of the honors experience, with networking and hiring events, workshops and connections to national honors societies. Students gain early access to research, mentorship and applicable experiencesthat can help distinguish them in competitive graduate and career pathways. Together, these opportunities empower students to explore boldly, learn intentionally and prepare for lives of purpose and impact.
Hear From Our Students
"Being in the Honors College keeps me in the spirit of growth. We’ve cultivated this boiling pot environment. We are leaders amongst leaders, and we push each other, even sometimes in friendly competition."">" Being in the Honors College keeps me in the spirit of growth. We’ve cultivated this boiling pot environment. We are leaders amongst leaders, and we push each other, even sometimes in friendly competition. "
"Being in the Honors College keeps me in the spirit of growth. We’ve cultivated this boiling pot environment. We are leaders amongst leaders, and we push each other, even sometimes in friendly competition."">" Being in the Honors College keeps me in the spirit of growth. We’ve cultivated this boiling pot environment. We are leaders amongst leaders, and we push each other, even sometimes in friendly competition. "
The Ingram Honors College by the Numbers
GCU proudly hosts honors students across a range of disciplines and colleges within the university.
Here’s the impact of our honors community in numbers:
2,998 students in the Ingram Honors College in Fall 2025
391 Ingram Honors College courses as of September 2025
75 industry guest speakers were hosted by the Ingram Honors College in the 2024-25 academic year
Weighted incoming high school transcript GPA for honors students starting in Fall 2025
Average unweighted incoming high school transcript GPA for honors students (Fall 2025)
