According to CCTV, 32 prestigious American universities, including Columbia University, Duke University, and the University of Pennsylvania, have been hit with a class-action lawsuit filed in federal court in Boston. The plaintiffs, students from three other US schools, allege that these institutions conspired to inflate tuition fees for tens of thousands of students by exploiting the "Early Decision" admissions process.
The complaint accuses these universities of using binding early decision agreements to secure student enrollment choices while charging higher tuition fees during both early and regular admissions periods. This practice, the lawsuit claims, violates antitrust laws and misleads students into believing that early decision commitments are legally binding.
Early decision is a binding admissions process requiring applicants to attend the institution if accepted, preventing them from comparing offers from other schools, including financial aid packages.
The plaintiffs argue that this weakens students' bargaining power, enabling universities to provide fewer scholarships or financial assistance and charge higher tuition to high-demand applicants who are less sensitive to cost. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that these schools have tacitly agreed not to compete for early decision applicants, reducing competition and driving up tuition overall.
The plaintiffs seek class-action status for early decision applicants and some regular admission students since 2021, demanding unspecified tuition reimbursements and an injunction to prohibit the continued use of binding early decision admissions policies.
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