A for-profit college in Northern Virginia unexpectedly closed its doors this week after the Department of Education accused school officials of failing to distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars of tuition aid to students and cut off all financial assistance to the college. Federal education officials accused ACT College in Arlington of improperly keeping $262,382 in federal aid that should have gone to students, lying to the government about the money and falsifying records.

“ACT helped itself to its students’ funds in what in practical effect has been a substantial loan, without the students’ knowledge or consent,” the department wrote in a letter. It said the school “demonstrated a severe lack of administrative capability.”