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The FTC is sending a total of almost $50 million to nearly 147,500 students of the University of Phoenix. The money comes from the University’s 2019 settlement with the FTC, when the FTC charged the school with using deceptive ads to attract students. According to the FTC, the ads gave the false impression that the University worked with companies like AT&T, Yahoo!, and Microsoft to create job opportunities for students and to shape its programs for the jobs. (Just to be clear: the FTC says they didn’t.)

These payments are going to students who did not already get their debt cancelled by the University of Phoenix as part of the settlement. These students also meet these requirements:

  • They first enrolled in an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree program at the University of Phoenix between October 15, 2012 and December 31, 2016;

  • They paid more than $5,000 to the University (using cash, student loans, military benefits, or a combination);

  • They did not object when the University of Phoenix sent them a notice asking if it could give their information to the FTC. Graduation cap. FTC sends refunds to University of Phoenix students. Dollar bill. $50 million in refunds. Profile of person 147,000+ students. Are you eligible? FTC.gov/UoP

The average payment is $337. Most students will get a check in the mail. It’ll come from the FTC’s refund administrator, Rust Consulting. The checks will expire after 90 days, on June 22, 2021. But about 700 students will get payment through PayPal. The FTC will send an email to people who will get PayPal payments before PayPal sends the payment. Those payments will be available for 30 days, until April 22, 2021. Learn more about University of Phoenix payments and the FTC refund program.

If you think you might be getting a payment, know this: the FTC will never ask you to pay or give sensitive information before it sends you a payment. Not your Social Security, bank account, or credit card number. If someone says they’re from the FTC, but they ask for money, that’s a scam. If you spot a scam, fraud or bad business practice, please tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

 

 

Post updated on March 29, 2021.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

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Vee H.
April 12, 2021
I received a check for $249.00, but it seems like a lawsuit of that amount would have covered what students are liable for as it relates to our federal loans as well! It just doesn’t feel as if we’ve been made whole when you do the math. I enrolled in February 2015 and stuck with a big bill.
Garrett
April 14, 2021
What’s the email for the admin refund? I was given admin@[link removed] but didn’t work. Check was sent to wrong address.
FTC Staff
April 14, 2021

In reply to by Garrett

Go to www.FTC.gov/UoP for information about the payments and the administrator's contact information.

apaseman
April 13, 2021
What is the proper mailing address for this case? I need to send a letter of resending a check since my check went to my abusive parents and didn't get forwarded to my proper address and now the check has been shredded because my parents refuse to take my mail to the post office. Found out all this through my out-of-state brother. Thanks
FTC Staff
April 14, 2021

In reply to by apaseman

Go to www.FTC.gov/UoP to get information about the payments.

Don't use your…
April 29, 2021
I was enrolled in the UOP around 2010 thru 2013 and fit all of the criteria listed . Am I eligible for a refund? Clearly 1945
Sarah.minx
July 30, 2021

In reply to by Don't use your…

Unfortunately I’m in your situation because You were before 2012 u do not qualify
Shelley56
May 25, 2021
I signed up for the lawsuit way back in 2016 after 50,000.00 in student loans and I was informed by my last financial adviser reveled my loans would not be good for me to complete my masters degree. I started school 10/2012 and quit 2017 before completing my bachelor's. Deep in debt and no way to finish and no way to be a teacher! I'm 65 and work a part time job, live in my motorhome because I can't pay to live any other way!
Alum in nc
June 04, 2021
Why is it only for students who began in 2012? Was it a new enrollment campaign? What about students that enrolled before that year, because I'm sure enrollment campaigns were just as aggressive.
Cameron
June 29, 2021
I signed up for the MBA program in JULY 2012 under the (guided) impression that U of P was the way to go as they had these close relationships and I would already have a foot in the door to a high paying position. At the time, I had a general undergrad degree that really wasn’t getting me anywhere, so I researched MBA programs and, after speaking with them, THOUGHT University of Phoenix was the best way to go. However, I find out later that I might as well have gone with a lower-costing program as the FTC has determined these claims by University of Phoenix were FALSE. After a failed marriage, I had to work years on my credit, getting it where it needed to be in order to buy/build a house. Thanks to the $40k (!!!) MBA price tag I agreed to under this overall false impression, I was unable to secure mortgage funding due to…yep…DTI after figuring in my student loans. This post is meant as a lesson to those considering both schools to attend as well as taking out student loans. Trust NO ONE. As you can see from FTC findings, even “reputable” institutions will lie to you.
Kayla
July 10, 2021
I submitted a Borrower Defense to Repayment regarding my time at the school. I received the FTC settlement that hardly would cover (1) monthly payment for my loan. I feel deceived- my whole family worked for ATT in their Offices through CA & WI and they definitely played it like they were able to help me get a foot in the door, yet UoP did not help me get a job there as they Sold.
JaymeW
July 14, 2021
I was a student during this period and lured by their deceptive practices yet I was NEVER notified nor did I receive any refund! So I am strapped with paying off all this debt and it irks me that I was just overlooked like that!
Mylittleangel0604
July 28, 2021
I just saw this! I went to UOP in 2006. I had over 50k in loans. My parents had to help me with payments. Why is the cut off date 2012?
Confused
July 28, 2021
It’s really frustrating that many of us didn’t qualify for debt forgiveness when we were also taken advantage of..This is deceptive and unfair!! It’s truly disheartening and we deserve some relief!!
Sarah.minx
July 30, 2021
I enrolled in March 2009 I was barely but a few years away and only got my associates degree then the university targeted me to come back to so my bachelors which I am a few credits behind I want what I deserve at least my bachelors dropped is there any way to figure out why these students did not get paid back I can’t even transfer any credits from my bachelors degree to a local 4 year college
hhenry52706
July 30, 2021
It is crazy how I was not eligible as I started one month prior to this timeline. It honestly should be extended as many promises were made but not fulfilled.
allop5
August 26, 2021
I attended school from Oct 2014 to May 2018 and have never heard one single thing from anyone. Not one call, email, letter, sticky note or anything. My sister attended during the same time for a few classes and got a check in the mail a few the ago. Can someone tell me why.
ALittleLate
October 20, 2021
Wish I had known, I meet all the criteria, but I never received a check. Guess it's too late now?
sjb0820
October 25, 2021
What about the rest of us, I graduated in 2006 and had to defer my loans due to not getting a job and then getting laid off from the job I did get... Please extend this offer to people in my situation. I cannot afford this and NEVER received any job as they promised.
Got a call to …
December 10, 2021
I got a call from an automated system saying they need to confirm my address from this number +18003985570. Is that you?
UOP Debt for e…
December 22, 2021

In reply to by Got a call to …

I am getting these calls as well, that why I came here
UOP Debt for e…
December 22, 2021
How do I find out if my name is on the list for the refund. I am 40k plus interest to UOP and I started filing complaints in 2010 with FTC and DOE regarding the behavior and no one ever responded.
Brenda O'Neil
January 23, 2022
I apologize for saying that I didn't receive anything from UOP. They dismissed the charge for my last class that I didn't need for my associates degree. Psychology was $ 191.00 and because it was owed directly to UOP it was taken off my account.