“We are not aware of any other regionally accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit university receiving this level of coordinated and unwarranted scrutiny,” the university declared. “The combination of these scenarios makes it clear to us that GCU is being unjustly targeted in an agenda-driven manner, and it is alarming that individuals within these agencies have unfettered discretion within the federal government to use their positions to attack institutions with whom they are ideologically opposed.”
Years of False Advertising
The trail of false advertising dates back to 2017, as revealed in a letter to GCU President Brian Mueller from the Department of Education. With over 100,000 students, GCU received a colossal $1 billion in federal funding during the 2021-22 award year under Title VI of the Higher Education Act. The university primarily offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs through online instruction.
The Misleading Doctoral Programs
GCU’s extensive array of 35 doctoral degree programs includes fields like business administration, education, and philosophy. Although the university’s marketing materials stated that doctoral programs cost between $40,000 and $49,000, a minuscule 2% of students actually graduated within this price range. The overwhelming majority of students found themselves enrolling in costly “continuation courses” vital for meeting dissertation requirements, leading to unexpected financial burdens.
