Purpose

To determine whether Fordham University complied with the Education Law and the Commissioner of Education’s Rules and Regulations when certifying students for State financial aid.   

Background

Fordham University (Fordham), a Jesuit Catholic University founded in 1841, operates four campuses in New York State: Rose Hill in the Bronx; Lincoln Center in Manhattan; Westchester in West Harrison; and the Louis Calder Center in Armonk. The school’s enrollment for the 2015-16 academic year totaled 8,855 undergraduate students. Fordham offers degrees in various disciplines including business, English, philosophy, political science, pre-med, psychology, social work, and theology. Annual undergraduate tuition for the 2015-16 year was $46,120. TAP is an entitlement program designed to provide funds for paying tuition costs to eligible students. Schools receiving State financial aid awards certify student eligibility. For the three academic years ended June 30, 2014, the school certified 8,739 awards totaling $14.4 million that were paid to the school on behalf of 2,638 students. We reviewed a sample of 75 randomly selected awards paid during that period, as well as other awards to these students through the spring 2016 semester.

Key Findings

• We determined that Fordham was overpaid $104,630 because school officials incorrectly certified some students as eligible for State financial aid awards.
• Incorrect certifications include four students who received awards but did not maintain good academic standing and four students who received awards but did not meet the full-time requirement.

Key Recommendations

• The Higher Education Services Corporation should recover $104,630 plus applicable interest, from Fordham.
• Fordham should comply with the State Education Law and the Commissioner of Education’s Rules and Regulations when certifying students for State financial aid.
• The State Education Department and the Higher Education Services Corporation should work with school officials to help ensure future compliance with the eligibility requirements cited in the report.

Other Related Audits/Reports of Interest

Higher Education Services Corporation/State Education Department: Tuition Assistance Program - CUNY York College (2016-T-1) 
Higher Education Services Corporation/State Education Department: Tuition Assistance Program - Metropolitan College of New York (2015-T-7)