Exposing the Alleged Collusion: Top Universities Accused of Conspiring to Overcharge Students

In a shocking turn of events, a class-action lawsuit has been filed against 40 of the top private universities in the United States, accusing them of conspiring to overcharge students for their education. The lawsuit alleges that these institutions have been unfairly including the financial backgrounds of noncustodial parents when determining financial aid packages, leading to higher tuition costs for students from divorced or separated homes.

Uncovering the Alleged Scheme: How Top Universities Exploited Vulnerable Applicants

The Lawsuit's Allegations: Collusion and Unfair Practices

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that the universities, including prestigious institutions like Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, and Yale, have engaged in a "concerted action" to require applicants' noncustodial parents to provide their financial information in order to be eligible for nonfederal financial aid. This practice, the lawsuit claims, has led to inflated financial aid offers that are based on a family contribution from both parents, even if one parent is not planning to contribute to the tuition fees.

The Role of the College Board: Complicity in the Alleged Scheme

The lawsuit also implicates the College Board, the nonprofit organization that developed the financial aid methodology used by the universities. The lawsuit alleges that the College Board's methodology was concocted by individuals connected to the universities that applied it, including the College Board's current chair of the Financial Assistance Assembly Council, who works at Columbia University, and Harvard's director of financial aid, who was a chair at the nonprofit.

The Financial Impact: Increased Tuition Costs for Affected Students

According to the lawsuit, the alleged "price-fixing" agreement between the universities and the College Board has increased the cost of tuition by approximately $6,200 compared to top schools that were not participating in the College Board's methodology. This financial burden, the lawsuit argues, has disproportionately affected college applicants from divorced or separated homes, who were unaware of the alleged scheme in place.

The Universities' Response: Denials and Defiance

The universities named in the lawsuit have responded with a mix of silence and defiance. While some, like Harvard, Cornell, Columbia, and Georgetown, have declined to comment on the pending litigation, others, such as New York University, have outright dismissed the lawsuit, calling it "without merit" and vowing to "vigorously defend" their financial aid policies and procedures.

The Potential Implications: Shaking the Foundation of Higher Education

The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the higher education landscape. If the allegations are proven true, it could expose a systemic issue within the college admissions and financial aid system, potentially leading to sweeping changes in how universities determine financial aid and the role of organizations like the College Board in the process. The case has the potential to challenge the status quo and hold these prestigious institutions accountable for their alleged actions.As the legal battle unfolds, the spotlight remains firmly on the universities and the College Board, with the future of college affordability and accessibility hanging in the balance.