Get All Access for $5/mo

Grand Canyon University Slapped with Record $37.7 Million Fine For 'Lies' About Program Costs The Department of Education has accused GCU of misleading students about the expenses related to their doctoral programs.

By Madeline Garfinkle

Key Takeaways

  • A government investigation revealed that advertised costs ($40,000 to $49,000) were significantly lower than the actual expenses, which were about 25% higher.
  • GCU has denied allegations, and said that it believes it is being “unjustly targeted.”

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Grand Canyon University (GCU), the nation's largest Christian university, has been hit with a record fine of $37.7 million by the federal government that alleges the institution misled over 7,500 students about the costs associated with its graduate programs, the Department of Education (DOE) announced on Tuesday.

"GCU lied about the cost of its doctoral programs to attract students to enroll," said Federal Student Aid (FSA) COO Richard Cordray in the release. "FSA takes its oversight responsibilities seriously. GCU's lies harmed students, broke their trust, and led to unexpectedly high levels of student debt."

Located in Phoenix, Arizona, GCU has a student body of over 100,000 students.

The FSA investigation found that since 2017, GCU had been misinforming students about the costs of their doctoral programs, advertising expenses between $40,000 and $49,000. However, less than 2% of graduates managed to complete the programs within the advertised costs. Additional expenses, primarily for "continuation courses," were necessary for the majority of graduates, leading to a significant increase in tuition expenses of approximately 25% compared to what GCU initially promoted.

GCU's fine print disclosures were deemed "insufficient to cure the substantial misrepresentations regarding cost," and the university did not contest its determination that 98% of students enrolled in certain doctoral programs paid more than advertised, the DOE noted.

In response, Grand Canyon University refuted the accusations in a statement on Tuesday and vowed to take all necessary steps to defend itself against the claims.

"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," GCU said in the statement.

GCU added that it believes it is being "unjustly targeted" as the nation's largest Christian university and that individuals within the government agencies have used their positions "to attack institutions with whom they are ideologically opposed."

The DOE has imposed the $37.7 million fine, plus specific requirements for the university's participation in federal student aid programs, including prohibiting further misrepresentations about the costs of their doctoral programs, oversight by a monitor, and mandatory reporting on legal proceedings or investigations related to accreditation or pending litigation.

Madeline Garfinkle

News Writer

Madeline Garfinkle is a News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate from Syracuse University, and received an MFA from Columbia University. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Buying / Investing in Business

What to Know About Selling Your Business

Selling your business can be both an exciting opportunity and a daunting process. This article will help you learn what you need to know before starting your sale process to ensure you get yourself on the right path to the desired outcome.

Business Solutions

Build Investor-Ready Pitches in Minutes with PitchBob

Your AI-powered co-pilot for startup success.

Real Estate

Why You Should Consider Commercial Real Estate as Your Next Investment

This article highlights the benefits of investing in commercial real estate while also addressing the associated risks you should consider.

Franchise

How to Create Franchise Videos That Inspire — And Convert Interest Into Action

The best franchise videos don't just inform, they connect emotionally. To capture those kinds of stories, you need to do more than just scripted interviews and staged office shots.

Growing a Business

'Good Isn't Enough': He Turned a Company on the Brink of Collapse Into a $100 Million Brand. Here Is His Best Advice for Giving Your Business a Second Chance.

Brad Charron, CEO and "Re-Founder" of ALOHA, explains the moves he made to help this plant-based protein company finally thrive.

Starting a Business

What You Need to Know to Buy the Right Business and Acquire Your Empire

Once you've decided to follow the road of entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA), it's time to focus on what your destination should be and what supports can help you get there.