Biden Administration Fines Christian University

The largest Christian university in the USA 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 dealt by the U.S. Education Department. The university previously denied any wrongdoing and says it’s being unfairly targeted in retaliation for an ongoing lawsuit.

An Education Department investigation found that Grand Canyon lied to more than 7,500 current and former students about the cost of doctoral programs.  As far back as 2017, the university said 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 came from “continuation courses” that were needed to finish dissertation requirements, the department said.

The fine drew a quick response from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In a letter recently sent by the Chamber, the group called on Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to end his department’s unfair treatment and scrutiny of the University.  The Chamber's letter says, “The ongoing dispute between the U.S. Department of Education and GCU stems from the university’s transition from a for-profit to a non-profit status in 2018.”  The letter says that change is “recognized by various regulatory bodies, including the IRS, Higher Learning Commission, and state authorities.  However, it is perplexing that the Department of Education refuses to acknowledge this transition.”

As far as the government’s claim of misleading the students about the cost of graduate programs, the Chamber says in a newsletter that the Department of Education’s arguments against GCU are “flimsy” and “borderline preposterous.”  The Chamber says, “For example, the government says that GCU’s estimates of the cost of finishing a doctoral program weren’t sufficiently transparent.  But GCU provides prospective doctoral students with far more information on costs than ever required by the federal government.”

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel