Grand Canyon University, the Largest For-Profit Christian College, has been Fined the largest amount a university has ever been fined—$37.7 Million For Lying and False Advertising. The Education Department accused the for-profit Christian school of telling DOCTORAL STUDENTS THAT ITS PROGRAMS COST FAR LESS THAN THEY ACTUALLY DID.
Daniel Whyte III, President of Gospel Light Society International, says if these accusations by the U.S. Department of Education are true, this will be a shame before God Almighty and a harsh, painful rebuke for the For-Profit Christian University. But it will be a win for the poor students who could not finish their degrees because of deception and false advertising.
The U.S. Education Department is fining Grand Canyon University $37.7 million, saying the for-profit Christian school misrepresented the costs of its doctoral programs.
The agency says Grand Canyon University told students that enrolling in the doctoral program would cost $40,000 to $49,000. That was supposed to cover tuition and 60 credit hours. However, the department says, 98% of doctoral students needed more than 60 credit hours to graduate.
From 2017 to 2022, the Education Department said, 78% of Grand Canyon students who graduated with doctorates needed five or six three-credit courses. That cost another $10,000 to $12,000, and sometimes more.
“Almost no students are able to complete their doctoral program within the represented number of credits,” the department said.
In many cases, students could not get federal financial aid for those additional courses.
The Education Department disclosed the fine in a letter to university President Brian Mueller dated Tuesday. It said the college has until November 20 to request a hearing and contest the fine.
In a statement email to NBC News, Grand Canyon University said the government’s statements were “lies” and called them “deceptive.”
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