Pros and Cons of a Lower-Ranked Law School

Florida Coastal Law School

For-Profit Law School Sues Federal Government

Florida Coastal School of Law is fighting for survival.

The for-profit law school sued the federal government last week to reverse a decision which denied Florida Coastal’s access to federal aid. The law school states that without student access to financial aid, the school “will imminently close,” Jacksonville reports.

“As with any institution of higher education, FCSL will imminently close without access to Title IV funds,” the lawsuit states. “Its students will be forced to find alternatives to finish their legal training, its faculty and staff will immediately lose their jobs, and a valuable source of legal professionals in Northeast Florida will disappear.”

FEDERAL AID MAKES UP 80% OF FLORIDA COASTAL FUNDING

Florida Coastal, home to 126 students and 15 faculty and staff members, relies heavily on its access to government funds with roughly 80% of its funding coming from federal student aid.

According to the lawsuit, the school has taken steps to secure funding including recently reaching a change in ownership agreement with a “100-year-old institution with more than $147 million in assets.” Florida Coastal, however, highlighted that it cannot stay in business long enough until then unless it receives “immediate relief” from the court.

THE FIGHT AGAINST FOR-PROFIT EDUCATION

Florida Coastal has had a history of issues surrounding the law school’s financial responsibility and accreditation.

President Joe Biden has pledged to take action on holding for-profit universities accountable and stopping them from “profiteering off of students.” In an official statement on the Department of Education’s decision to deny Florida Coastal’s application for federal aid, the U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, made that commitment loud and clear.

“Too often, we see for-profit schools that try to take advantage of students, misuse taxpayer dollars, and skirt the rules to participate in federal student aid programs,” Cardona says. “Today we want to be heard and understood by for-profit schools around the country: we will be vigilant in ensuring they meet their commitments to students, families, and taxpayers.”

Sources: Jacksonville, Dept of Education, Biden Harris

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