The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University Brooklyn is facing backlash over its promise that students could graduate debt-free.
Several current and former students have reported that they were misled, leaving them with significant student debt.
The school, which opened in 2021, offered a Hope Scholarship to students with high financial need. Justice Stephenson, one of the first recipients of the scholarship, was initially told she would graduate without debt.
However, she later learned that she owed $26,000 in student loans. After disputing the charges, she managed to reduce her debt to $5,000 by showing evidence of the debt-free promise.
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Other students have reported similar issues after receiving letters promising a debt-free education. They were later informed that certain fees, such as housing and academic costs, were not covered by the scholarship.
LIU explained that while the Hope Scholarship covers full tuition, it does not include additional fees like housing. However, students have claimed that the scholarship offer letters did not mention these extra costs, leading to confusion.
In addition to financial issues, students have criticized the quality of the education. Complaints include subpar facilities and the failure to deliver promised guest lectures from Roc Nation artists like Rihanna and DJ Khaled.
