Dr. Phil apologizes for unknowingly slamming Slippery Rock as an undesirable university

Dr. Phil McGraw is walking back his comments about Slippery Rock University.

The daytime talk show host, 68, offered his take on the ongoing college admissions scandal that actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman are caught up in.

"I don’t think it has anything to do with the education. I think this is jewelry for a lot of these (parents)," McGraw told People. "The kids are leaving high school, they don’t want to say, 'My kid’s going to the junior college.' They want to say, ‘My kid’s going to Harvard, my kid’s going to USC or Yale.' I think it’s bragging rights for them."

He added that wealthy parents allegedly bribed college coaches and insiders at testing centers because, "they don't want to be the one parent that says, 'Well, yeah, my kid’s going to, you know, Slippery Rock.'"

However, unbeknownst to McGraw, Slippery Rock is a real university in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and the college's faculty, students and alumni didn't appreciate being referred to as the "antithesis of a trophy school."

More: Felicity Huffman returns to court May 13 to plead guilty in college admissions scam

"Dr. Phil, for less than the price tag of your lovely ’57 Chevy Bel Air Convertible, Slippery Rock University students can secure an education that will change the trajectory of their lives," SRU President Bill Behre wrote in a statement posted to their Facebook account Saturday.

McGraw issued a 'sincere apology' on Twitter a day later, taking 'one hundred percent' responsibility for his mistake.

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"It was definitely not aimed at the real Slippery Rock University (SRU)," he responded Sunday in his own open letter. "It was from ignorance, no intention, that I made the comment, as I was unaware of your school and intended to use a fictitious example. One hundred percent my mistake. I have since educated myself about SRU and could not be more impressed with your fine institution."

Related: Martha Stewart on Lori Loughlin, Felicity Huffman: 'I just feel sorry for them'

His apology was received by SRU's president, who thanked McGraw for his "kind words" and invited the talk show host to "come and speak to our students in the fall."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dr. Phil apologizes for unknowingly slamming Slippery Rock as an undesirable university