Department of Education Rescinds Fines Against Grand Canyon University

GCU’s president says the school was wrongly accused.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has rescinded a $37.7-million fine assessed against Grand Canyon University (GCU) in 2023.

Photo courtesy of Grand Canyon University

“Unlike the previous Administration, we will not persecute and prosecute colleges and universities based on their religious affiliation,” ED spokesperson Ellen Keast told MinistryWatch. “The Trump Administration will continue to ensure every institution of higher education is held accountable based on facts – but Department enforcement will be for the purpose of serving students, not political bias.”

The original fine was assessed for what the ED said at the time was deception of more than 7,500 students about the cost of doctoral programs at GCU.

“GCU’s lies harmed students, broke their trust and led to unexpectedly high levels of student debt,” Richard Cordray, chief operating officer for Federal Student Aid, an office in the Education Department, said in 2023. “Today, we are holding GCU accountable for its actions, protecting students and taxpayers, and upholding the integrity of the federal student aid programs.”

The ED “dismissed the case with no findings, fines, liabilities or penalties of any kind, and confirmed it has not established that GCU violated any Title IV requirements, including the claim that GCU ‘substantially misrepresented’ the cost of its doctoral programs that was alleged by ED officials under the Biden Administration,” according to a press release by GCU.

GCU President Brian Mueller said he was not surprised by the decision.

“The facts clearly support our contention that we were wrongly accused of misleading our Doctoral students and we appreciate the recognition that those accusations were without merit,” he said.

Access to MinistryWatch content is free.  However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. To make a donation, click here.

A private lawsuit in federal court about the doctoral program representations survived a motion to dismiss on May 6. A Federal Trade Commission lawsuit filed in December 2023 regarding the same issues is still pending.

GCU is the largest Christian university in the country with nearly $1.9 billion in revenue according to its Form 990.

In the MinistryWatch database, GCU has a five-star financial efficiency rating, a C transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 72 out of 100.

TO OUR READERS: The mission of MinistryWatch is to help Christian donors become more faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them. Do you know of a story that will help us fulfill our mission, or do you want to give us feedback about this or any other story? If so, please email us: [email protected]