Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Faces Probe Over $39K Debt Burden on Music Students

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation School of Music at LIU-Brooklyn is under investigation following allegations that students were left with unexpected debts as high as $39,000, despite promises of a “debt-free” education. The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) launched the probe after reports surfaced that students, many of whom were awarded “Hope” scholarships, faced significant financial burdens they did not anticipate.

The Roc Nation School, launched in partnership with Long Island University in 2020, was marketed as a groundbreaking program offering degree tracks in music production, sports management, and vocal performance. Central to its pitch was the Hope Scholarship, promoted as a full-tuition award for students with the greatest financial need, and initially described on LIU’s website as a way to “graduate without debt.” However, in 2023, the language was quietly changed to “tuition-free education,” a shift that left many students confused about what costs were actually covered.

Students say they received offer letters explicitly stating they would graduate without debt, only to later discover that fees, housing, and other expenses were not included in the scholarship. Some reported debts ranging from $5,000 to $39,000, with at least four students dropping out due to the accumulating costs. One student, who was living in a homeless shelter at the time of admission, left the program after accruing over $17,000 in charges. “I want to get my degree to break the generational chain of high school dropouts,” he told reporters, but instead, he found himself pursued by debt collectors.

Additional complaints include lack of promised access to state-of-the-art recording studios and high-profile guest lectures from artists like Rihanna and DJ Khaled, which never materialized. Some students even resorted to building their own makeshift studio due to inadequate facilities.

LIU has stated that the Hope Scholarship covers only tuition and that offer letters clarify that university fees and housing are not included. However, students and advocates argue that the initial marketing was misleading and that many were left in financial distress as a result.

The DCWP investigation is ongoing, with officials urging affected students to come forward and file complaints. As scrutiny intensifies, neither Jay-Z nor Roc Nation has issued a public response to the mounting controversy.

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