Grand Canyon University (commonly referred to as GCU or Grand Canyon) is a for-profit Christian research university in Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States. Founded in 1949 as a non-profit liberal arts college, the university was purchased by Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: LOPE) in February 2004. The university is the first, and only, for-profit to participate in NCAA Division 1 athletics. As a non-profit, the university had briefly participated in NCAA Division 1 athletics, from 1995 to 1998, winning several conference titles.