A Brooklyn music school backed by Jay-Z is under scrutiny after a series of allegations emerged from its supposedly "debt-free" scholarship program. Reports from Gothamist have revealed that students at the Roc Nation School of Music, a program partnered with Long Island University, are encountering significant and unexpected debt, despite earlier assurances suggesting otherwise.
According to an investigation by Gothamist, at least twelve scholarship recipients have received bills ranging from $5,000 to $39,000. These "Hope" scholars were originally offered what they understood was a chance to "graduate without debt." Living in a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, one of the students, Muzik Duvell, found himself ultimately dropping out of the program after accumulating $17,549 in debt. The LIU website initially described the Hope Scholarship as offering a "debt-free education," but by 2023, the language had been revised to "tuition-free education."
The saga continued with a report from BkMag, revealing that students were not only billed for room and board but also for associated living costs, contrary to what they had been led to believe. One student, under the impression that a recording studio would be available, spent their first semester building one out of an abandoned student radio station, only to abandon the program with a $39,000 debt.
The school had promoted the prospect of guest lectures by high-profile celebrities such as Rihanna and The Jonas Brothers, but according to a student who spoke to BkMag, those appearances never materialized. Instead, students attended sessions featuring other public figures, including Megan Thee Stallion and athlete Victor Cruz. Despite the promotional promises, some students said they were ultimately faced with a costly and disappointing experience.
LIU officials and Roc Nation representatives have been elusive when it comes to addressing the students' grievances. One student recounted to BkMag receiving an acceptance message from the school's dean Tressa Cunningham via text, reading: “Because you are a Hope scholar your tuition is fully covered. This means you do not need to make a tuition deposit. We can enroll you in classes right away!!”
However, Jackie Nealon, LIU's chief of marketing, asserted to Gothamist that neither university fees nor housing costs were encompassed by the scholarship, yet a provided copy of these supposed inclusions in the offer goes missing.
The city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has since launched an investigation into these troubling practices and encourages students who feel they've been wronged to come forward. A spokesperson for the department, Michael Lanza told Gothamist, “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," highlighting the seriousness of the situation, which could impact the reputations of both the university and the internationally known Roc Nation brand.
