Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Investor Relations Contact:

Dan Bachus

Chief Financial Officer

Grand Canyon Education, Inc.

602-639-6648

Dan.bachus@gcu.edu

Media Contact:

Bill Jenkins

Grand Canyon Education, Inc.

602-639-6678

William.jenkins@gcu.edu

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC. REPORTS

THIRD QUARTER 2012 RESULTS

ARIZONA, November 1, 2012—Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: LOPE), a regionally accredited provider of online and campus-based postsecondary education services, today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.

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Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

For the three months ended September 30, 2012:

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012:

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of September 30, 2012, the University had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $69.6 million compared to $21.2 million at December 31, 2011 and restricted cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 of $57.4 million and $56.7 million, respectively.

The University generated $124.7 million in cash from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $65.3 million for the same period in 2011. Cash provided by operating activities in 2012 and 2011 resulted from our net income plus non-cash charges for provision for bad debts, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation and improvement in our working capital.

Net cash used in investing activities was $74.3 million and $56.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Capital expenditures were $73.6 million and $61.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In 2012, capital expenditures primarily consisted of the construction costs associated with two additional dormitories, an Arts and Science classroom building and a parking garage to support our increasing traditional student enrollment as well as purchases of computer equipment, other internal use software projects and furniture and equipment. In 2011, capital expenditures primarily consisted of ground campus building projects such as a new dormitory and an events arena to support our increasing traditional ground student enrollment as well as purchases of computer equipment, internal use software projects and furniture and equipment. In 2011 expenditures were partially offset by a $5.4 million decrease in restricted cash as a result of payment of the qui tam legal matter in June 2011.

Net cash used in financing activities was $2.0 million and $23.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. During the first nine months of 2012, $4.9 million was used to purchase treasury stock in accordance with the University’s share repurchase program and principal payments on notes payable and capital lease obligations totaled $1.8 million, partially offset by $4.3 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options. During the first nine months of 2011, $22.4 million was used to purchase treasury stock in accordance with the University’s share repurchase program and principal payments on notes payable and capital leases totaled $2.9 million, partially offset by $1.5 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

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Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

2012 Q4 and Annual Outlook

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” which include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies expectations, competitive environment, regulation, and availability of resources. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding: projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, and forecasts as to our business, financial and operational results, and future economic performance; and statements of management’s goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: our failure to comply with the extensive regulatory framework applicable to our industry, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act and the regulations thereunder, state laws and regulatory requirements, and accrediting commission requirements; the results of the ongoing program review being conducted by the Department of Education of our compliance with Title IV program requirements, and possible fines or other administrative sanctions resulting therefrom; the ability of our students to obtain federal Title IV funds, state financial aid, and private financing; risks associated with changes in applicable federal and state laws and regulations and accrediting commission standards, including pending rulemaking by the Department of Education; potential damage to our reputation or other adverse effects as a result of negative publicity in the media, in the industry or in connection with governmental reports or investigations or otherwise, affecting us or other companies in the for-profit postsecondary education sector; our ability to properly manage risks and challenges associated with potential acquisitions of, or investments in, new businesses, acquisitions of new properties, or the expansion of our campus to new locations; our ability to hire and train new, and develop and train existing, faculty and employees; the pace of growth of our enrollment; our ability to convert prospective students to enrolled students and to retain active students; our success in updating and expanding the content of existing programs and developing new programs in a cost-effective manner or on a timely basis; industry competition, including competition for qualified executives and other personnel; risks associated with the competitive environment for marketing our programs; failure on our part to keep up with advances in technology that could enhance the online experience for our students; the extent to which obligations under our loan agreement, including the need to comply with restrictive and financial covenants and to pay principal and interest payments, limits our ability to conduct our operations or seek new business opportunities; our ability to manage future growth effectively; general adverse economic conditions or other developments that affect job prospects in our core disciplines; and other factors discussed in reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

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Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

Conference Call

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. will discuss its third quarter 2012 results and 2012 outlook during a conference call scheduled for today, November 1, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (ET). To participate in the live call, investors should dial 877-815-5362 (domestic and Canada) or 706-679-7806 (international), passcode 34858616 at 4:25 p.m. (ET). The Webcast will be available on the Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Web site at www.gcu.edu.

A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours following the conclusion of the call through October 31, 2013, at 855-859-2056 (domestic) or 404-537-3406 (international), passcode 34858616. It will also be archived at www.gcu.edu in the investor relations section for 60 days.

About Grand Canyon Education, Inc.

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. is a regionally accredited provider of postsecondary education services focused on offering graduate and undergraduate degree programs in its core disciplines of education, business, healthcare and liberal arts. In addition to its online programs, it offers programs at its approximately 115 acre traditional campus in Phoenix, Arizona and onsite at the facilities of employers. Approximately 52,300 students were enrolled as of September 30, 2012. For more information about Grand Canyon Education, Inc., please visit http://www.gcu.edu.

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), http://www.ncahlc.org. Grand Canyon University, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017, www.gcu.edu.

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Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Income Statements

(Unaudited)

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest expense net of interest income, plus income tax expense, and plus depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as adjusted for (i) royalty payments incurred pursuant to an agreement with our former owner that has been terminated as of April 15, 2008; (ii) contributions to Arizona school tuition organizations in lieu of state income taxes, which we typically make in the fourth quarter of a fiscal year; (iii) contract termination fees, if any; (iv) lease termination costs, if any; (v) exit costs, if any; (vi) estimated litigation and regulatory reserves; and (vii)share-based compensation. We present Adjusted EBITDA because we consider it to be an important supplemental measure of our operating performance. We also make certain compensation decisions based, in part, on our operating performance, as measured by Adjusted EBITDA, and our loan agreement requires us to comply with covenants that include performance metrics substantially similar to Adjusted EBITDA. All of the adjustments made in our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA are adjustments to items that management does not consider to be reflective of our core operating performance. Management considers our core operating performance to be that which can be affected by our managers in any particular period through their management of the resources that affect our underlying revenue and profit generating operations during that period. Royalty expenses paid to our former owner, contributions made to Arizona school tuition organizations in lieu of the payment of state income taxes, estimated litigation and regulatory reserves, exit costs, share-based compensation, and contract termination fees are not considered reflective of our core performance.

We believe Adjusted EBITDA allows us to compare our current operating results with corresponding historical periods and with the operational performance of other companies in our industry because it does not give effect to potential differences caused by variations in capital structures (affecting relative interest expense, including the impact of write-offs of deferred financing costs when companies refinance their indebtedness), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses), the book amortization of intangibles (affecting relative amortization expense), and other items that we do not consider reflective of underlying operating performance. We also present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties as a measure of performance.

In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, investors should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments described above. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by expenses that are unusual, non-routine, or non-recurring. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for net income, operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with and reported under GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of our liquidity. Some of these limitations are that it does not reflect:

In addition, other companies, including other companies in our industry, may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA as a comparative measure. Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of our liquidity. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure for the periods indicated:

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

The following is a summary of our student enrollment at September 30, 2012 and 2011 (which included less than 765 students pursuing non-degree certificates in each period) by degree type and by instructional delivery method: