Christian college files suit over denial of state financial aid

A Christian college is suing two government student aid agencies for violating its religious freedom.

Luther Rice College and Seminary filed a lawsuit on Oct. 15 against the Georgia Student Finance Commission and Georgia Student Finance Authority for allegedly violating the school’s First Amendment rights.

The suit claims Luther Rice has been excluded from the state’s financial aid offerings solely because of its religious nature.

“By unlawfully discriminating against Luther Rice’s religious beliefs, Georgia officials are ultimately hurting the state’s students,” said Ryan Tucker, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which is representing the college.

“Georgia high school students can’t receive dual credit by taking classes at Luther Rice; college students who choose Luther Rice are denied much-needed financial aid available to students at other colleges.” 

The college’s mission is to equip students “to stand on the Word of God and excel in their calling. Whether your pursuit is in the ministry or the marketplace, Luther Rice aims to guide you in becoming a winsome ambassador for Christ.” 

The lawsuit explains when Luther Rice applied for aid in 2020, it was denied eligibility because it was considered a “college of theology or divinity.”  

At the time, the small college only offered one undergraduate degree in religion.  

However, it has since added one in general studies and another in psychology. Yet Georgia continues to deny Luther Rice students financial aid because “the institution as a whole is considered a ‘school of theology or divinity.’”  

As a result, the college is forced to choose between staying true to its Christian mission or enabling its students to receive state aid.  

“Putting the school to that choice is unconstitutional,” wrote ADF counsel Andrea Dill. “By denying the school participation in Georgia student aid programs because of its religious character, beliefs, and exercise, the state is penalizing the schools and its students based on their religion – discrimination that, as the U.S. Supreme Court has found, is ‘odious to our Constitution.’”  

Luther Rice claims Georgia has violated multiple aspects of its First Amendment rights and is requesting a permanent injunction to enable it to receive state aid.