NEW YORK, NY — Fordham University has agreed to a $2.55 million class action settlement over claims that students should have been refunded part of their tuition and mandatory fees after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the school to close in-person classes.
The agreement covers students who were enrolled in at least one in-person class during the spring 2020 semester, paid tuition and/or mandatory fees, and remained enrolled as of March 1, 2020. Under the deal, students do not need to submit a claim form to take part. Those who stay in the class and do not opt out are expected to receive payments automatically.
Students say Fordham did not deliver the in-person education they paid for
The lawsuit against Fordham argued that the university did not provide the full educational experience students paid for when it stopped in-person instruction during the pandemic. Plaintiffs said that meant a portion of tuition and fees should have been returned.
Fordham, a private university in New York City, has not admitted any wrongdoing. The settlement lets the school resolve those allegations without continuing the fight through trial. Class action settlements often reflect a compromise rather than a finding that one side was right.
The case is Conley, et al. v. Fordham University, filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Bronx County.
How the $2.55 million fund will be divided among undergraduates and graduate students
Payment amounts will vary depending on how much each eligible student paid in tuition and fees for the spring 2020 semester. Students with larger payments are expected to receive a larger share of the settlement fund.
According to the settlement terms, undergraduate class members will receive 65% of the net settlement fund, while graduate class members will receive 35%. Some students who received mailed settlement notices may also have seen an estimate of their expected payment included with that notice.
Because the payout depends on the amount each person paid, the final checks will not be the same for every class member.
Deadlines for opting out, objecting, or choosing an electronic payment
Students who want to exclude themselves from the settlement or file an objection must do so by Dec. 14, 2026. The same deadline applies to students who want to choose an electronic payment option.
The settlement notice says class members who do nothing will remain in the case and receive a payment automatically. There is no claim form requirement for basic participation, which makes the settlement simpler for eligible students who do not want to take any extra steps.
The final approval hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2027. That hearing will help determine whether the court gives the settlement its final blessing.
Who qualifies for a payment under the Fordham agreement
The settlement is limited to students who were enrolled in at least one in-person class during Fordham’s spring 2020 semester, paid tuition and/or mandatory fees for that term, and were still enrolled on March 1, 2020.
Those conditions narrow the class to students who were directly affected by the campus shutdown after the pandemic spread. The agreement does not require proof of purchase from students, and the notice materials say proof is not needed for participation.
Eligible students who received a mailed notice may already have enough information to understand whether they qualify and what their estimated payment could be.
What happens next for students and the claims administrator
The settlement administrator listed for the case is Apex Class Action LLC, which is handling notices and payment administration for the class. The notice information also lists contact details for questions about the settlement process.
If the court grants final approval in January 2027, the settlement fund will be distributed according to the terms of the agreement. Students who stay in the class should watch for further instructions about payment timing and delivery.
Fordham’s agreement comes more than six years after the spring 2020 disruption that affected colleges and universities across the country. For eligible students, the deal now creates a path to compensation without requiring an individual lawsuit.
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