Thanks to the Trump administration’s Department of Education, the nation’s largest Christian college has been freed from a massive $37.7 million fine.
In 2023, the Biden administration accused Grand Canyon University of misleading doctoral students about program costs, swiftly imposing the hefty fine. Then-Education Secretary Miguel Cardona openly criticized GCU, stating he was “cracking down not only to shut them down, but to send a message to not prey on students.”
At the time, GCU President Brian Mueller described the accusation as nothing short of “ridiculous.” He had also shared with The Washington Stand that his college had sought to rise above the circumstances by being a good example through Scriptural obedience and service. He also noted that “all the issues we have are with a very small number of people in Washington, D.C.”
However, the situation raised suspicions of targeted persecution, especially as Liberty University, America’s second-largest Christian university, faced a similar $37 million fine around the same time. Mueller highlighted this in a speech, questioning, “It’s interesting, isn’t it, that the two largest Christian universities in the country … are both being fined almost the identical amount at almost the identical time?”
After nearly two years of legal battles, the Trump administration’s Department of Education announced on Friday that it had rescinded the $37.7 million fine against GCU, clearing the university of any wrongdoing. The university’s press release stated there were “no findings against GCU, or any of its employees, officers, agents, or contractors, and no fine is imposed.” The move has been hailed as both an academic and political victory. The decision also reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting religious institutions from discriminatory enforcement.
Education Department spokesperson Ellen Keast underscored the administration’s stance, stating, “Unlike the previous administration, we will not persecute and prosecute colleges and universities based on their religious affiliation. The Trump administration will continue to ensure every institution of higher education is held accountable based on facts—but department enforcement will be for the purpose of serving students, not political bias.”
The Trump administration’s statement reflected a broader commitment to fairness and impartiality in regulatory oversight, particularly for faith-based institutions that felt unfairly targeted under prior policies. And ultimately, the decision was met with widespread praise from advocates of Christian higher education. David Closson, director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council, considers it a victory for GCU and the broader landscape of Christian colleges and universities.
He told the Washington Stand, “The news today involving Grand Canyon University is encouraging for those who care about Christian higher education.” As Closson explained, “GCU is the nation’s largest Christian college, and it appears they were unfairly targeted by the Biden administration. GCU has maintained from the beginning that they did not mislead their doctoral students in terms of course requirements and cost. The granting of their appeal vindicates the contention the university has been making from the beginning.”
Closson also commended GCU’s leadership for its principled response throughout the ordeal. “GCU leadership, including President Mueller, have demonstrated a disposition marked by fruit of the spirit throughout the entire process,” he said. Closson concluded that Christians nationwide should be grateful for the vindication of one of the premier institutions of Christian higher education, which continues to play a vital role in shaping students’ faith and intellect.
Reprinted with permission from The Daily Signal by Sarah Holliday.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
Communists always go after religious institutions first. Communism IS the god of the Communist. Open your eyes and mind and understand that the Democrat party is the party of Communism.
This is a big win for people of all faiths. Religious freedom is a foundational principle of the United States.
So glad we replaced that godless, heathen administration with a God fearing, ethical administration.
Lets face it, the 4 dark years of the Biden Admin were run on Marxist beliefs, nothing Pro-America.
The only decent thing the Biden Administration did was to end. Thank you Joe Biden for being the worst President of my lifetime. And I’m only 10 years younger than Joe.
Had they been spreading brainwashing propaganda they’d would have received government blessings and money.
What about Liberty University? Has its fines also been dismissed? I didn’t see mention of that.
What is Liberty’s status?
Religious Freedom is America’s constitutional Right, But yet it seems at the same time certain sect of people from other countries who become American citizens are trying to use America’s constitution to force their ideology upon Americans Christian values and beliefs!
America was and is founded on a Judeo- Christian beliefs first and foremost.
President Trump has taken us a giant step back from the Left’s brazen attempt to push us ever closer to George Orwell’s 1984.
I agree with not prosecuting colleges and universities based on their religious affiliation. But it wasn’t just the Department of Education that thought something was amiss. Four GCU students filed a lawsuit against the university on June 12, 2024. On May 6, 2025, a federal judge in Arizona reviewed their claims and said “Plaintiffs have pled facts sufficient to state a plausible claim for relief for all but one of their claims” and allowed the lawsuit to proceed. Any college or university that defrauds students should be prosecuted, regardless of religious affiliation.