gothamist.com/news/a-brooklyn-school-backed-by-jay-z-said-students-could-graduate-debt-free-now-theyre-buried-in-it

Justice Stephenson had recently graduated high school in Brooklyn and was questioning whether to take a gap year abroad or enroll in college when she received a text message from an unknown number that provided her answer.

“I tried to reach you by phone. Roc Nation School at LIU is awarding you a full tuition scholarship. You will receive full tuition and be able to graduate without debt,” read the message from LIU President Kimberly Cline.

“It felt too good to be true,” Stephenson said. But her mother urged her to seize the opportunity to pursue what seemed to be a free degree in vocal performance. LIU was offering a “Hope Scholarship,” which the university says it awards to “highest-need” students.

“ I remember being just generally conflicted about school and then coming across this school made me feel a sense of security,” Stephenson said. “It was a full scholarship immediately. It was a music school, which is iconic and the dream. And Jay-Z is involved.”

The text from the LIU president, she said, “made me feel special.”

But she started noticing unexpected charges tied to her studies. In 2023, Stephenson reached out to Kline directly with questions about her scholarship. Kline texted back, “I am in DC in meetings with Congress. I will reach out to you on Friday.” Stephenson said she hasn’t heard back since.

Now, Stephenson is preparing to graduate while also paying off $5,000 in student debt. She said she negotiated that amount down from $26,000 after arguing to LIU officials that she’d been promised a debt-free graduation.

Stephenson is among at least a dozen students in the first class of Hope scholars who said they unexpectedly owed LIU thousands of dollars despite receiving offer letters stating they’d graduate “without debt.” Gothamist spoke with several students who said the Roc Nation school did not live up to its promise of teaching the next generation of artists and entertainment entrepreneurs. In the program’s first year, students said they created their own DIY recording studio due to a lack of facilities.

I’m not surprised

Ajaiya Thomas, a Hope scholar, said she abandoned plans to study veterinary medicine because of LIU’s statement she’d graduate debt-free. She transferred to a different university two years later due to $19,000 in unexpected charges from LIU.

Other students told Gothamist they felt deceived.

“When I saw that I still had to pay money and then take out extra loans so that I could have my room and board paid for, it was very, very misleading,” said Ashley Barksdale, 21, a Hope scholar who took out loans to help pay off more than $22,000 she owes LIU.

As students’ debt accumulated, some complained to administrators about the quality of the Roc Nation School, particularly in its first year. Students in the program majored in subjects including sports management and music production. But members of the inaugural class said the school didn’t have a professional recording studio, so they built one themselves. Celebrity guest speakers represented by Roc Nation like Rihanna, DJ Khaled and the Jonas Brothers never showed, despite advertising featuring their names.

Jay z hate >>>>

Nigga pulled a Michael Scott

Hit em with the

Should’ve taken the dinner

We beating Jay Z ass when we catch him

5k ain’t bad but yea that’s bs

Professional Snake? You meant "professional businessman"

sounds like a justifiable lawsuit, that's f***ed.

#WeNeedLessBlackBillionaires

cant even relisten to The Blueprint without some s*** coming from this guy

This was a very hard episode to finish
You could feel the cringe through the screen

Enemy of the people indeed

Dinner with Jay Z or 5k in debt ?

Never choose the dinner.

Jays Babes

This foul buts its also foul that this gets added to “Jay Z is bad” when he very well didn't even have any idea if this lmao. Nigga on an island or in a meeting somewhere getting the heat for some s*** he didnt even know happened lmao

#TheInternet

JiggaTV tier post

Remember when he tried to get his old projects hooked on bitcoin

Shoutout LIU post