Jay-Z‘s The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment has faced criticism over claims of providing debt-free education, with numerous individuals stating this assertion may be misleading.
Situated on the Brooklyncampus of Long Island University, the RocNation School made its debut in 2021 With great expectations, including a "Hope Scholarship" initiative designed for students facing the most significant financial challenges. Nonetheless, recently Gothamist The report indicates that numerous students who participated in the program felt deceived, taking on unforeseen debts to join.
One of the school's initial Hope Scholars, Justice Stephenson mentioned that she was subsequently informed she had an outstanding debt of $26,000 in student debt. After presenting proof of the school’s debt-free promise, she was able to negotiate it down to $5,000. Still, she said, “I was offered a debt-free education.”
Dozens of students reportedly received similar letters assuring them they could “graduate without debt.” However, those letters failed to mention that the scholarship excluded university fees and housing costs.
LIU’s head of marketing, Jackie Nealon, claimed, “The offer letter… expressly includes that neither university fees nor housing costs are included in the scholarship.” Yet the original wording made no such clarification.
Students also criticized the school’s quality, alleging that promised guest lectures from stars like Rihanna and DJ Khaled never occurred and that facilities were subpar. Jay-Z and Roc Nation have not responded publicly. The situation echoes issues faced by Kanye West’s Donda Academy, which shuttered in 2022 amid controversy and lawsuits.
It’s unclear if any of the students have taken legal action against the school.
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