Posted on 11/01/2023 1:42:33 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
WASHINGTON (AP) — The country’s largest Christian university is being fined $37.7 million by the federal government amid accusations that it misled students about the cost of its graduate programs.
Grand Canyon University, which has more than 100,000 students, mostly in online programs, faces the largest fine of its kind ever issued by the U.S. Education Department. The university dismissed the allegations as “lies and deceptive statements.
“Grand Canyon University categorically denies every accusation in the Department of Education’s statement and will take all measures necessary to defend itself from these false accusations,” the school said in a five-page statement.
An Education Department investigation found that Grand Canyon lied to more than 7,500 current and former students about the cost of its doctoral programs.
As far back as 2017, the university told students its doctoral programs would cost between $40,000 and $49,000. The department found that less than 2% of graduates completed programs within the range, with 78% paying an additional $10,000 to $12,000.
The additional cost often came from “continuation courses” that were needed to finish dissertation requirements, the department said.
"GCU’s lies harmed students, broke their trust and led to unexpectedly high levels of student debt,” said Richard Cordray, chief operating officer for Federal Student Aid, an office in the Education Department. “Today, we are holding GCU accountable for its actions, protecting students and taxpayers, and upholding the integrity of the federal student aid programs.”
The Biden administration is issuing the fine amid a broader push for accountability among U.S. universities. The Education Department recently finalized a new regulation that could cut federal funding to for-profit college programs that leave graduated unable to repay loans, and the agency plans to give students and families more information about outcomes from all colleges.
Grand Canyon has 20 days to appeal the fine. The department is also adding new conditions the school must meet to continue receiving federal money.
The school will be barred from making “substantial misrepresentations” about the cost of doctoral programs, and if it tell students about the cost of doctoral programs, it must use the average cost paid by graduates.
It also has to report any other investigations or lawsuits, and it must also send a notice to current doctoral students telling them how to submit a complaint to the Education Department.
For the past four years, Grand Canyon has disbursed more federal student aid than any other U.S. institution, the department said.
Earlier this month, Grand Canyon issued a statement saying federal agencies were unfairly targeting the school with “frivolous accusations” in retaliation for an ongoing lawsuit the university filed against the Education Department in 2021.
Grand Canyon sued after the agency rejected the school’s request to be classified as a nonprofit college. It became a for-profit college in 2004 after investors saved it from financial collapse. It applied to become a nonprofit again in 2018 but the Trump administration blocked the move, saying the college remained too close to its previous parent company.
It’s considered a nonprofit by its accreditor and the Internal Revenue Service.
Responding to the fine, Grand Canyon said its cost disclosures have been upheld in court during a separate lawsuit, and by the school's accreditor. It said the fine is part of a “disturbing pattern” by the Education Department, adding that the agency declined a request to address the issue through a federal mediator.
“This speaks volumes about their agenda-driven motivation to bring harm to the university and the coordinated efforts being taken against GCU,” the school said.
The university enrolls roughly 20,000 students at its campus in Phoenix, but most of its overall enrollment comes from students who take online classes from outside Arizona. It enrolled 80,000 students in online programs as of 2021, with a roughly even split between undergrad and graduate programs.
The fine was applauded by groups that advocate for student loan borrowers.
“When colleges lie to students, it costs them time and money they’ll never get back,” said Aaron Ament, president of the group Student Defense. "We’re glad to see the Department of Education take action to prevent graduate schools from misleading students about the costs of their programs, and we hope they will continue to crack down on these types of predatory schemes.”
I wonder if they’ll go after secular universities as well.
10 years ago I’d see a story like this and be complain about Christian entities.
Now I see a story like this and believe that it’s our government harassing them...
Christian university - does make one go “Hmmmmm.” Don’t have the same complaint to lodge against Trump anymore so off to new pastures?
Boy - don’t we all know just how concerned any federal agency is about costs to taxpayers?
Nope. Obama started this assault as part of nationalizing the student loans. The communists have complete control over the college education system and are now systematically destroying private colleges that don’t fit into this system.
Lawfare: the Left has total control of the illegitimate regime, so it is attacking any institutions that resist its despotic authority like Christian churches and universities, abusing its authority under color of law.
So, what do Doctoral programs cost at other institutions?
A 25% overrun doesn’t seem that much for a Doctoral program.
Weird that the US government would have a war on Christians/Christianity...
Oh wait, look at recent history.
Exactly. This is part of the deep state's war both on Christianity and in private universities that try to stay out of the gubment's college loan protection racket.
Christian schools like Hillsdale College accept no federal student aid or government funding, and thus avoid government reporting and other DeepState or woketardian requirements.
The check to The Big One must have bounced.
Christians and deception? Say it ain’t so.
I know of one Christian high school graduates that enroll at GCU. Very conservative Christian University. Costs to attend there are far lower than most schools; and no socialist courses, Very safr place to send your kids and avoid being indoctrinated with liberal garbage.
Note that it is a fine by a bureaucrat.
It is arbitrary, no review.
It is a scam
I realistically don’t expect them to as they are already toeing the party line.
GCU is Christian in the most flexible use of the word. Sorta like calling Mitt Romney a republican.
Interesting: The complaint came from the government and not students.
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