Grand Canyon University Triumphs: Lawsuit Dismissed – Key Insights from Baptist News Global

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently decided to dismiss a lawsuit involving Grand Canyon University (GCU) and one of its executives. They concluded that continuing with the case would be a poor use of resources.

GCU, a prominent Christian university, expressed relief over the FTC’s decision. They argued that the Biden administration’s scrutiny over their nonprofit status and their graduate program costs was an attack on their institution. GCU claimed this was part of a “coordinated lawfare” against them.

Founded in 1949, GCU began as a nonprofit and switched to for-profit in 2004, only to return to a nonprofit status in 2018. Over time, it partnered with Grand Canyon Education, a for-profit firm providing services to the university. This relationship drew scrutiny from the IRS.

The Department of Education had previously fined GCU $37.7 million, accusing it of misleading graduate students about the true costs of their degrees. Reports indicated that 78% of grad students had to pay more than $10,000 above what was advertised. With GCU being a leading recipient of federal student aid, these extra costs often fell to taxpayers.

In a turn of events, after the establishment of a Task Force aimed at combating anti-Christian bias under the Trump administration, investigations were halted, and the Department of Education rescinded its fine. GCU celebrated this as a win, but others, like the Freedom from Religion Foundation, criticized it as an example of political favoritism.

Brian Mueller, GCU’s president, highlighted that the investigations felt driven by an ideological agenda rather than genuine regulatory concern. He commented on their survival and growth during four years of scrutiny. “We support fair government oversight but oppose actions that are not fairly applied,” he said.

GCU currently boasts an enrollment of around 123,000, with 25,000 attending on campus. Comparatively, Liberty University claims over 140,000 students, positioning it as the largest Christian university.

This situation reflects a growing tension between education institutions and government policies, especially in how nonprofit statuses are handled. As such investigations continue, it raises questions about fairness and consistency in regulatory practices across different schools.

For deeper insights, you can read about the ongoing debates around nonprofit statuses and higher education regulations in reports from the U.S. Department of Education.

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