GI Bill Enrollment Will Cease at University of Phoenix

The Department of Veterans Affairs has suspended new student enrollments under the GI Bill at the University of Phoenix and five other colleges that were flagged over “erroneous, deceptive, or misleading” practices.

The VA on Monday alerted the University of Phoenix, Career Education Corporation (Colorado Technical University, American InterContinental University), Bellevue University and Temple University, that the department will disapprove the enrollment of new GI Bill students at any of these schools.

“After careful review and consideration of findings provided by the Federal Trade Commission and State Attorneys General Offices, VA has concluded there is sufficient evidence to support a finding that these schools have utilized advertising, sales, or enrollment practices that are erroneous, deceptive, or misleading either by actual statement, omission, or intimation against GI Bill beneficiaries, in violation of the law,” the agency wrote in a press release.

The University of Phoenix is the largest recipient of federal GI Bill tuition benefits at over $1 billion since 2009, and has almost 15,000 GI Bill students enrolled at this time, according to the VA’s website. Three months ago, the school agreed to settle with the Federal Trade Commission over deceptive advertising claims for $191 million.

The VA’s decision will not affect currently enrolled GI Bill students at these schools who maintain continuous enrollment, according to the agency.

"It’s important to note that no students or benefits are currently impacted by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ recent announcement," the University of Phoenix said in a statement, according to the Arizona Republic. "We will respond expeditiously to the VA’s teams that are handling the review process and we are working to assure no disruptions to existing or new students, now or in the future."

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