Nearly 70% of enforcement actions executed by the Biden-Harris administration’s Department of Education (DoE) have been directed at faith-based and career schools, despite these institutions representing less than 10% of the student population in the United States, according to a recent report by the American Principles Project (APP).

The APP, a conservative think tank, released data showing that the Department of Education has disproportionately targeted Christian and career-focused schools.

APP Policy Director Jon Schweppe criticized these actions, stating that the Biden-Harris administration is using federal agencies to target political opponents, particularly Christian educational institutions that do not align with the left’s agenda.

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Schweppe said, “While major assaults from agencies like the Department of Justice have taken most of the headlines, we should not ignore similarly corrupt efforts in other agencies as well.”

The report highlighted two of the nation’s most prominent Christian universities—Grand Canyon University (GCU) and Liberty University—that have faced significant scrutiny from the DoE.

Both institutions have been hit with record-level fines, which surpass the penalties imposed on larger public institutions like Penn State and Michigan State.

These fines were largely associated with violations under the Clery Act, which mandates campus crime reporting.

GCU, located in Arizona, is currently appealing a $37.7 million fine imposed by the DoE in November 2023.

The penalty stems from allegations that the university misled students about the cost of its doctoral programs.

Additionally, in a House Appropriations Committee hearing earlier this year, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona pledged to shut down GCU, labeling it a “predatory school” that he claimed preys on first-generation students.

The APP report also highlighted that at least 12 Christian colleges have faced excessive penalties or been banned from receiving federal student aid. In contrast, no Ivy League school has received similar punishment.

At least 12 Christian colleges have been the target of excessive penalties or banned from receiving federal student aid; by comparison, no Ivy League school has been the recipient of punitive action by the Office of Enforcement.

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According to the data, the average fine imposed on a Christian institution for Clery Act violations was $815,000, compared to just $228,571 for public and private institutions.

One notable victory for GCU came in its legal battle over its non-profit status.

After the Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education, the Internal Revenue Service, the State of Arizona, and the Higher Learning Commission had all granted GCU non-profit recognition, the Department of Education denied the status.

However, in a unanimous decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the DoE had unlawfully applied the wrong standards in rejecting the university’s non-profit status.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education responded to the APP’s report, denying any bias in its enforcement actions. “A school’s religious affiliation or non-profit status has absolutely no bearing on our oversight and enforcement actions,” the spokesperson said.

“Our top priority is protecting safety and academic opportunity for all students at institutions of higher education.” The spokesperson also claimed that the APP’s data misrepresented the department’s actions, distorting publicly released information.

Despite the Department of Education’s defense, critics remain concerned about the disproportionate focus on faith-based institutions, especially in light of the recent legal challenges and record penalties.

With GCU’s victory in court and the continued scrutiny of Christian colleges, the debate over the federal government’s approach to higher education enforcement is likely to persist.

As these discussions unfold, it remains clear that Christian universities and career-focused institutions are facing unique challenges under the Biden-Harris administration’s education policies.

The APP’s findings shed light on the ongoing controversy surrounding federal oversight of private institutions and the potential consequences for faith-based education in America