Arizona’s education department believes that the U.S. Department of Education is unfairly threatening to shut down Grand Canyon University, calling it an act of harassment. State Superintendent Tom Horne stated that the federal government’s actions are unwarranted and unjust, and contrary to constitutional guarantees. Despite the school’s excellent reputation and numerous audits conducted by state entities, the federal government is targeting GCU over ideological differences.
Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller has expressed that the university is well-loved and respected in Arizona, and the allegations made by federal agencies are not corroborated elsewhere. While GCU plans to appeal within the DOE, Mueller believes the case could eventually reach the Supreme Court. The university’s accrediting body and the Arizona State Approving Agency found no substantiated findings in the investigations conducted to address the DOE’s claims.
DOE Secretary Miguel Cardona has vowed to shut down GCU, accusing the school of being a predatory for-profit institution. The department claims that GCU has misled students about the costs of its doctoral programs, an allegation that the university denies. Cardona, during a House Appropriations Committee hearing, expressed support for shutting down GCU and other similar universities, emphasizing the need to crack down on predatory practices in higher education.
The DOE imposed a $37.7 million fine on GCU in November over allegations that the university misled students about the cost of its doctoral programs. An investigation by the office of Federal Student Aid found that GCU had lied to students about program costs, resulting in additional fees. GCU is contesting the fine and asserts that the cost of doctoral programs can vary for each student due to the nature of dissertation-based programs.
Despite the allegations made by the DOE, GCU’s accrediting body and the Arizona State Approving Agency did not find any substantiated claims in their audits of the university. GCU has been commended for its transparency and robust disclosures in its enrollment practices by these state entities. The university maintains its innocence and is committed to appealing the DOE’s decision within the department’s process before potentially seeking redress in the Supreme Court.
The conflict between Grand Canyon University and the U.S. Department of Education reflects broader debates about for-profit education and regulatory oversight in higher education. GCU’s leadership argues that the federal government’s actions are politically motivated and unfair, given the school’s standing in Arizona and the lack of corroborating evidence for the allegations against it. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for the future regulation of for-profit institutions in the U.S.
