Christian college fights back against unprecedented $37.7 million fine from Biden administration

Grand Canyon University is appealing a massive $37.7 million fine from the Biden Department of Education – the largest fine the federal government has ever imposed on a Christian college.

The fine centers on the price of a doctoral degree in the case of taking continuing credits while completing a dissertation – a cost the department claims GCU has inaccurately advertised.

“I have spoken to thousands of students, parents, employees, alumni and community stakeholders in Arizona and they all tell me the same thing: We need to fight this tyranny from federal government agencies not only to stand up for ourselves but to ensure this type of ideological government overreach and weaponization of federal agencies does not happen to others,” said Brian Mueller, who has served as GCU president for over 15 years.  

Mueller points to prominent university resources such as its Degree Program Calculator (DPC) as evidence that the university clearly discloses costs.  

While GCU remains adamant no false advertisement occurred, the Department of Education says it intends to use Grand Canyon University to “send a message.” 

“Our message is that they will be held responsible for any malfeasance that violates the law and harms students,” said Richard Cordray, COO of federal student aid at the Department of Education.  

Along with the fine, the Department of Education is seeking to impose new conditions on GCU’s continued ability to disburse federal student aid, citing GCU as the school that has disbursed the most federal aid for the past four years. 

By way of comparison, Fox News reported the fines imposed on Penn State University ($2.4 million) and Michigan State University ($4.5 million) for failing to address accurate reports of pedophilia and sexual assault from staff members were significantly smaller than the GCU fine. 

Mueller previously attempted to engage Miguel Cardona, Department of Education secretary, to seek a fair resolution to the department’s disputes, publicly offering to travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with the secretary.  

“GCU does not mislead or deceive students in any way,” Mueller concluded in a recent statement. “Rather than applaud such efforts or work cooperatively with GCU in a matter that could easily be resolved in a 10-minute phone call, the Department has instead chosen to impose a record fine, which speaks to their agenda and motivations.” 

Some members of Congress have called out the Biden Department of Education for its tendency to persecute Christian-affiliated universities. Since 2021, Christian colleges have been fighting back against a Biden administration directive that permits students who identify as transgender to use the dorms and other sex-specific campus facilities of the opposite sex.  

Grand Canyon University, located in Phoenix, AZ is the largest Christian college in the United States.