Class Action Settlements for College Students and Graduates
Universities settle more class actions than most students realize: tuition paid for campuses that closed, for-profit schools that overpromised, and data breaches at the registrar. Here's what's open.
Students and recent graduates are covered by a steady stream of settlements, and most of them are easy to claim: the school already knows you were enrolled. The hard part is hearing about them, since notices go to a school email you may no longer check.
What student settlements cover
- ✓COVID-era tuition and fees. Students charged full in-person tuition and campus fees in spring 2020, when classes moved online, sued dozens of schools. Several are still paying out.
- ✓For-profit college refunds. Federal Trade Commission actions against schools that misrepresented job placement or earnings have returned money to former students, often by check without a claim.
- ✓Data breaches. Universities hold Social Security numbers, financial aid records and health information, and breaches there are common. These settlements usually pay a flat amount, or more with proof of losses.
- ✓Website tracking. Pixel cases claim schools shared visitors' activity with advertising platforms. If you used the school's website or portal during the class period, you may qualify.
Open settlements for students right now
University of Hawaii Data Breach Settlement — $50 or Up to $5,000
University of Phoenix Pixel Settlement — $25 for Students
Notice / PIN Privacy University of Phoenix Pixel Settlement — $25 for Students $25 for people enrolled at the University of Phoenix since April 2023, or April 2020 in Illinois, over alleged sharing of data with Meta.
Albany College of Pharmacy Data Breach Settlement — $25 or Up to $5,080
DeVry Refunds
The FTC is sending payments to students who were harmed by DeVry’s deceptive claims and previously received a check which they did not cash.
Lincoln University - COVID Tuition Class Action Settlement
If you were a student enrolled at Lincoln University for the Spring 2020 semester, did not withdraw by March 12, 2020 and were not fully refunded for tuition or fees, you may be included in this settlement.
Updated daily from the SettleScout catalogue. See every open settlement.
Check your old school email
Administrators send notices to the address the school gave them, which is usually your student account. Most schools keep alumni email running for a while after graduation; it's worth searching it for "settlement" or "class action" every few months.
In SettleScout, add the schools you attended as brands alongside the companies you use, and the app will match you to new settlements and remind you before they close.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim a COVID tuition settlement if I graduated?
Yes. These settlements cover students who were enrolled in the affected term, whether or not they're still at the school. Many pay automatically using enrollment records.
Does a settlement payment affect my financial aid?
Small settlement payments generally don't change federal aid eligibility, but rules vary by program. Ask your school's financial aid office if you're unsure.
Are student loan forgiveness programs settlements?
Mostly not. Programs like borrower defense are federal processes rather than class action settlements, though some have been shaped by class action cases. This page covers settlements you claim from an administrator.
See every settlement you qualify for
Tell SettleScout which brands you use. It finds your matches, estimates your payouts and reminds you before deadlines.
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