. Grand Canyon University, which has more than 100,000 students mostly in online programs, faces the largest fine of its kind ever dealt by the U.S. Education Department. The university previously denied any wrongdoing and says it’s being unfairly targeted in retaliation for an ongoing lawsuit. An Education Department investigation found that Grand Canyon lied to more than 7,500 current and former students about the cost of doctoral programs.
It must also send a notice to current doctoral students telling them how to submit a complaint to the Education Department. For the past four years, Grand Canyon has disbursed more federal student aid than any other U.S. institution, the department said. Earlier this month, Grand Canyon said federal agencies were unfairly targeting the school with “frivolous accusations” in retaliation for an ongoing lawsuit the university filed against the Education Department in 2021.