The University of Phoenix, one of the largest for-profit universities in the country, recently agreed to pay a $4.5 million fine to the State of California as a result of what the California Attorney General said were “aggressive and unlawful military student recruitment tactics” over a four-year period ending in 2015. The school was accused of violating consumer protection laws and Department of Defense directives when trying to recruit military veterans, many of whom were using benefits such as those provided by the GI Bill to pay their tuition at the school. The University of Phoenix settlement is just one of a number of instances where for-profit colleges and universities have been accused of misleading or defrauding students.  

If you are or were enrolled at a for-profit college or university and believe you have been misled by your school, contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team for help by calling us at 888.535.3686 or by scheduling a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.  

The Allegations Against the University of Phoenix 

According to the California Attorney General's Office, the University of Phoenix “routinely sidestepped” Department of Defense directives that required schools to secure permission from “specified military officers” before gaining access to a military facility and that limited the ways that schools could “market their programs to servicemembers.” The university was also accused of lying to gain entrance to veteran career fairs and improperly soliciting veterans and their families at so-called “yellow ribbon” events that are intended to connect service members and their families to resources before, during, and after the service members were deployed.  

The school agreed to pay $4.5 million to the State of California, some of which will be used to support military service relief organizations. In addition, the university is required to comply with a number of restrictions on its military recruiting practices.  

For-Profit Schools in the Spotlight 

In recent years, for-profit colleges and universities have been the targets of hundreds of lawsuits and numerous government investigations. Many of these have focused on the marketing tactics used by schools to recruit students, tactics that allegedly have included misstating the amount of financial aid available to students or misleading students about the type or quality of education provided. With more than 2000 private for-profit colleges and universities in the U.S. (as of 2021), and hundreds of thousands of students enrolled (with more than 460,000 in just the top ten programs), there are many students who may have been victims of unscrupulous behavior by their for-profit school.  

The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Help  

If you believe that you may have been defrauded by your for-profit college or university, contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team to discuss your situation and learn how we can help. Our experienced attorneys understand the laws and regulations that schools are required to follow when marketing their educational services as well as when attempting to collect for tuition that they claim is owed. We have seen how some for-profit schools have focused more on being “for profit” and less on providing a quality education to their students. We can help you understand what your options are and help you avoid a situation where you are paying for promises that were never delivered.  

Call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team today at 888.535.3686 or schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys to learn more about how we can help you protect yourself when you've been the victim of your school's unfair or illegal tactics.