Grand Canyon University defeats Biden-era lawsuit

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has officially dropped its lawsuit against Grand Canyon University (GCU), two years after the Christian college was sued by the Biden administration.

“We have not only survived but have continued to thrive as a university,” said GCU President Brian Mueller in an Aug. 15 announcement. “That is a testament, first and foremost, to the strength and dedication of our faculty, staff, students and their families.

“Above all, it speaks to our unwavering belief that the truth would ultimately prevail.”

The saga began in October 2023 when the Department of Education levied a $38 million fine and the FTC filed a lawsuit over GCU’s marketing of its doctoral programs.

Both groups alleged the college “deceived prospective doctoral students about the cost and course requirements of its doctoral programs” and engaged in “deceptive and abusive telemarketing practices.”

However, Mueller argued the federal agencies were “clearly weaponizing their powers” against one of the nation’s largest Christian colleges.

President Trump rescinded the $38 million fine in May, and an education department spokesperson assured the press Trump’s administration would not “persecute and prosecute colleges and universities based on their religious affiliation.”

Along the way, multiple auditing organizations – including the IRS, the Higher Learning Commission and multiple Arizona groups – have vindicated GCU.

Now FTC’s lawsuit has been dropped, the university can go back to doing what it does best: providing a high-quality Christian education.

Earlier this year, GCU celebrated its largest ever graduating class of 31,000 students.

Mueller credits its success to its innovative, flexible educational models and commitment to the Christian faith.

“The hunger for people in this country to have their young people learn about the world in the context of the Christian worldview, perspective, and in a conservative-values orientation, there’s no limit to it,” the president previously explained.

GCU is known for its multiplicity of learning options, including in-person, online, hybrid and accelerated pathways. In fact, 25,000 students of the recent graduating class studied online. 

Mueller credited the flexibility with enabling GCU to “connect with students no matter their life circumstances.”

“More and more families are seeking these opportunities,” he said, “especially when taught from a Christian worldview perspective.”