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Brooklyn school tied to Jay-Z investigated after students racked up surprise debt
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published May 6, 2025
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Ramsey Khalifeh
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published May 6, 2025
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The city’s consumer protection agency is investigating LIU-Brooklyn following a Gothamist report on scholarship students at the Roc Nation School of Music who say they owe the university thousands of dollars tied to unexpected charges.
Last month, Gothamist reported that at least a dozen scholarship students enrolled in the Jay-Z-backed music school owed anywhere from $5,000 to $39,000. Those students had received offer letters informing them they’d received ”Hope” scholarships that would allow them to “graduate without debt.”
LIU previously told Gothamist the scholarship covered only tuition.
On Monday, the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection said it is investigating. The agency typically examines allegations of predatory business practices.
“While we can’t discuss details of ongoing investigations, we urge students who feel they’ve been harmed by Roc Nation LIU’s conduct to reach out to us. Consumers can call 311 or visit nyc.gov/Consumers to file a complaint with DCWP,” Michael Lanza, a spokesperson for the agency, said in a statement.
The partnership between LIU and Roc Nation launched in 2020, offering students degrees in music production, sports management, vocal performance and more. LIU promoted the Hope scholarship as providing an opportunity for students with the “highest need.” The university said 25% of each Roc Nation School class received the scholarship.
LIU did not respond to an inquiry about the consumer protection investigation.
An online archive shows that an LIU website promoted the Hope scholarship as offering a “debt-free education.” In 2023 it was revised to describe the scholarship as providing a “tuition-free education.”
At least four students said they dropped out of the program after incurring debt. One student, Muzik Duvell, applied to the school while living in a homeless shelter in Brooklyn. He said he dropped out after accumulating $17,549 in debt.
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brooklyn
Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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