Consumer Alert
FTC settlement against University of Phoenix
Most people go to college to earn a degree and get a good job. In a competitive job market, it helps to have connections. So when a college or university claims it has relationships with well-known employers, that may convince you to attend. But beware: Claims like this may be a ploy to attract new students — and your tuition dollars. In fact, the FTC says that’s just what one for-profit university did as part of an extensive advertising campaign.
In a proposed settlement announced today, the FTC says that for-profit University of Phoenix, and its parent company, Apollo Education Group, Inc., falsely claimed that their relationships with top companies created job opportunities specifically for Phoenix students and deceptively claimed they worked with these companies to develop courses.
The FTC says that University of Phoenix used a multi-media ad campaign to attract students, including ads specifically targeted to military and Hispanic consumers. The companies’ “Let’s Get to Work” campaign featured several high-profile employers, including Microsoft, Twitter, Adobe, and Yahoo!, giving the false impression that UOP worked with those companies to create job opportunities for its students.
As part of the $191 million settlement, the companies will return $50 million in cash to former students and cancel $141 million in student debt owed directly to the school. The proposed order prohibits the companies from further deceptive business practices. In addition, it requires them to ask consumer reporting agencies to delete the debts from people’s credit reports, give notice to those who got debt cancellation, and make sure people have access to their diplomas and transcripts.
Before enrolling in school, it’s important to do your homework. You can get important information about any school at the U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator. For example, if you enter a school’s name, you can find out if it’s public or private, for-profit or non-profit, its accreditation status, and its student loan default rates.
Also, check out what are people are saying about schools you’re considering. Search online for the school’s name plus words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.”
If you’re looking to advance your education, do your homework to be sure you know what you’re paying for. Check out Choosing a College: Questions to Ask.
Added on December 19, 2019: The FTC will identify people who are eligible for a payment from the $50 million University of Phoenix settlement with the FTC. You don’t have to apply or submit a claim to get a payment. If you would like to get email updates about this settlement, please sign up here.
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In reply to I was one of the people that by Alex
In reply to I attended Phoenix from 2011 by Tina
Under the settlement between the FTC and the University of Phoenix, the University will cancel $141 million in debts that are owed directly to the school by people who first enrolled at the school between October 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016.
The University will cancel debts owed directly to the school whether they were charged as fees or some other kind of charge. The University will send a notice to each person whose debt to the school is being cancelled. The University will contact the people who are eligible for debt cancellation. You don't need to file anything.
The University also paid $50 million to the FTC as part of the settlement. The FTC will identify people who are eligible for a payment from the $50 million the University paid to the FTC. You don’t have to apply or submit a claim to get a payment. Please sign up here like to get email updates from the FTC about this settlement.
In reply to Under the settlement between by FTC Staff
In reply to Under the settlement between by FTC Staff
In reply to I attended University of by Melody Ramos
In reply to I haven't heard anything by Andrea1
In reply to I attended during that time by Sully
The University will cancel debts owed directly to the school whether they were charged as fees or some other kind of charge. The University will send a notice to each person whose debt to the school is being cancelled. The University will contact the people who are eligible for debt cancellation. You don't need to file anything.
The University also paid $50 million to the FTC as part of the settlement. The FTC will identify people who are eligible for a payment from the $50 million the University paid to the FTC. You don’t have to apply or submit a claim to get a payment. Please sign up here like to get email updates from the FTC about this settlement.
In reply to The University will cancel by FTC Staff
In reply to What is going to be done for by Kathi
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In reply to my boyfriend and i each got by ekouris31
In reply to What is going to be done for by Kathi
In reply to The University will cancel by FTC Staff
In reply to The University will cancel by FTC Staff
In reply to What about those of us who by JohnC
The University also paid $50 million to the FTC as part of the settlement. The FTC will identify people who are eligible for a payment from the $50 million the University paid to the FTC. You don’t have to apply or submit a claim to get a payment. Please sign up here like to get email updates from the FTC about this settlement.
In reply to The University also paid $50 by FTC Staff
In reply to The University also paid $50 by FTC Staff
In reply to Please, I am trying to find by caburns
If you want to lower your monthly payments on federal loans you can get free information from the United States Department of Education about income-driven repayment plans. If you think you have been defrauded or deceived, you apply for loan forgiveness through the Borrower Defense to Repayment procedures.
In reply to Please, I am trying to find by caburns
In reply to Please, I am trying to find by caburns
In reply to I attended the school from by Notmyemailadress
In reply to The University also paid $50 by FTC Staff
In reply to The University also paid $50 by FTC Staff
I only received approximately $300. With such a large settlement, why are we only getting such a little amount?
In reply to I haven't heard anything by Andrea1
In reply to I was never contacted either. by 1janie
In reply to I was never contacted either. by 1janie
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In reply to I attended University of by Melody Ramos
In reply to I attended University of by Melody Ramos
In reply to Under the settlement between by FTC Staff
In reply to I attended UOP from 1998-2002 by Kim C
In reply to I'm in a similar situation; by debrab78
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In reply to I agree I graduated in 2010 by markita2021
In reply to Under the settlement between by FTC Staff
In reply to Under the settlement between by FTC Staff
In reply to What if you took out a by Joselyn
The FTC will identify people who are eligible for a payment from the $50 million University of Phoenix settlement with the FTC. You don’t have to apply or submit a claim to get a payment. If you would like to get email updates about this settlement, please sign up here.
The Federal Student Aid Office of the US Department of Education has information about repaying student loans at www.StudentLoans.gov.
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In reply to I was enrolled during that by brackett
In reply to The FTC will identify people by FTC Staff
In reply to The FTC will identify people by FTC Staff
In reply to So does this apply to federal by KTack
The settlement between the FTC and the University of Phoenix does not affect students' private loans or federal government loans.
In reply to The settlement between the by FTC Staff
In reply to The settlement between the by FTC Staff
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In reply to The FTC will identify people by FTC Staff
In reply to The FTC will identify people by FTC Staff