Tuition Refund Lawsuit Covid-19

It’s a well-known fact that college is expensive in the United States. The national average for annual tuition fees (as of 2023) for a four-year college program came in at $11,620. Of course, costs vary widely per institution, with some charging up to $50,000 per annum just for tuition. Those fees are supposed to cover an education that is geared toward an eventual degree, yes, but prospective students are also paying these huge sums in order to take part of the college experience and everything (football games, homecoming, fraternity life, social activities and resume-boosting campus roles) that comes with it. For many students, that opportunity to experience campus life ended abruptly with the Covid-19 pandemic. Was it fair that college students were forced to pay thousands in fees for online classes while being robbed of the in-person experiences that define college life? Many past and current students think it wasn’t, and they have taken legal action to try to recoup some of that money. Colleges and learning institutions across the country are facing legal action in the form of Covid-19 tuition lawsuits. Some have already settled, paying huge sums to cover student refunds. Others are holding out on refunding the students and are facing court action.

As we approach the winter of 2023, there are dozens of colleges facing Covid-19 tuition refund lawsuits. In fact, it’s estimated that there have been over 300 lawsuits against various institutions of higher learning. Moreover, new lawsuits are still emerging. For example, a former Lafayette College student launched a lawsuit against the school on October 17^th, 2023, claiming that she and other students were deprived of the “opportunity for hands-on, experiential, and collaborative learning and in-person dialogue, feedback, and critique” that they had paid for. Some colleges have agreed to provide partial refunds to students who missed out, whereas others have been forced to provide settlements through the threat of legal action.

Class action lawsuits were launched against US colleges and universities for tuition refunds as early as the spring of 2020, i.e., when it first became apparent that Covid-19 would close campuses and force students to learn remotely. Most of the class actions focus on breach of contract on the part of the colleges, claiming the students paid tuition fees with the expectation that they would be receiving more than online classes. Some of the proposed class actions never reached the filing stage. Columbia University, for example, agreed to a settlement of $12.5 million for refunds in 2021 to avoid facing a class action lawsuit.

Numerous colleges have already agreed to settlements to dismiss the Covid-19 college refund lawsuits. These include:

• In June 2023, the University of Michigan agreed to a settlement to pay larger refunds to 60,000 students. The University of New Mexico had earlier provided a $35.4 million fund for refunds, but students filed lawsuits demanding larger sums be paid.
• Also in June 2023, the University of Delaware agreed to pay $6.3 million to settle the class action lawsuit brought by students for tuition refunds.
• In April 2023, the University of Colorado paid a $5 million settlement to go toward refunds for student tuition fees during the pandemic.
• One of the earliest Covid-19 college refund settlements came in 2021 when Barry University set up a $2.4 million fund for its refund scheme.
• Molloy University agreed to a $1.5 million payment this year, ending a lawsuit brought by students in August 2020.

To be eligible to join a college tuition Covid-19 refund, you will, of course, have to be a student (past or present) of one of the colleges or universities in question during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020. The key issue is the switch from in-person learning classes to e-learning remote classes. If you paid for the former and received the latter, then you may be eligible for a refund. Those who paid tuition fees to attend the following colleges may be eligible:

• Allegheny
• Alvernia
• Colgate
• Dartmouth
• DeSales
• Dickinson
• Duquesne
• Fairleigh Dickinson
• Franklin & Marshall
• Gettysburg
• Grove City
• Haverford
• La Salle
• Lehigh
• Lincoln
• Manhattanville
• Marist
• Mercyhurst,
• Messiah
• Mount Aloysius
• Muhlenberg
• Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Robert Morris
• Saint Joseph’s (PA)
• The New School (NY)
• Thomas Jefferson
• Wagner
• Widener

Moreover, we would advise any college student who had classes switched from in-person to e-learning and were not offered a Covid-19 refund to check their eligibility. Even if not joining a current lawsuit, you may find that your college has set up a refund plan.

What happened to college students during COVID?

Many students paid for in-person classes but were suddenly forced to learn remotely. While the pandemic was outside of the control of US colleges, students believe they should have received a partial refund on their tuition fees.

Can you get a refund on student loan payments made during the pandemic?

There is a government program set up to reimburse some of those who made payments during the pandemic. You can check here for more information.

Are student loan payments made during COVID refundable?

Possibly. There is a refund plan available. Although, eligibility will depend on your personal circumstances.

What is the lawsuit for college tuition?

Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against colleges and universities. The lawsuits claim students were ripped off when paying tuition fees for in-person classes but were forced to partake in e-learning classes instead. Some colleges have already agreed to pay millions to settle the claims.

Is college tuition refundable?

Yes. Many students who paid for college during the Covid-19 pandemic have already received partial refunds. Many more students are engaged in lawsuits against their colleges.

How do I get a refund for college?

You can check if your college has set up a refund program, or you can join one of the many lawsuits against scores of colleges across the country.