Department of Education Fines Grand Canyon University $37.7 Million Over Misleading Doctoral Program Costs

Investigation reveals GCU manipulated cost of doctoral programs, leading to $37.7 million fine and conditions to continue federal aid participation; 98% of students paid more than advertised and GCU faces backlash over accusations of unfairly targeting the nation's largest Christian university.

The U.S. Department of Education has found Grand Canyon University (GCU) guilty of misleading over 7,500 former and current students about the cost of its doctoral programs over several years, resulting in a fine of $37.7 million.
GCU had falsely advertised lower costs for its doctoral programs, with around 98% of students ending up paying more than the advertised cost, leading to high levels of unexpected student debt.
The Department of Education has given GCU a 20-day deadline to request a hearing or submit written reasons as to why the fine should not be imposed, along with specific conditions to continue participating in federal aid programs.
GCU has been accused of breaching the Higher Education Act, with false claims about the cost of its courses on its website, policy handbooks, enrollment agreements, and other marketing materials.
GCU has contested the allegations and is prepared to take all necessary measures to refute them, asserting that the accusations are part of a coordinated attempt by the federal government to unfairly target the nation's largest Christian university.