$3.5M University of Rochester Settlement Ends Lawsuit Seeking Partial Refunds for 2020 COVID-19 Tuition Costs

New to ClassAction.org? Read our Newswire Disclaimer

A $3.5 million class action settlement will resolve litigation over tuition costs for the Spring, Summer and Fall 2020 semesters during which the University of Rochester temporarily transitioned to online learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and related government-mandated public health measures.

Don’t miss the next class action settlement deadline. Sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter.

The University of Rochester class action settlement received preliminary court approval on June 24, 2025 and covers students and learners who paid or caused to be paid tuition and/or mandatory fees to attend in-person University of Rochester courses in degree- or certificate-bearing programs and who were not provided in-person courses during the Spring 2020, Summer 2020 and/or Fall 2020 semesters.

The court-approved website for the University of Rochester COVID refund settlement can be found at URSettlement.com.

University of Rochester settlement class members can receive a portion of the $3.5 million settlement fund based on two factors. First, the settlement administrator will consider the amount each class member paid in tuition and/or mandatory fees, excluding gift aid such as third-party scholarships and grants and Rochester-backed scholarships, tuition waivers and grants, but including student and parent loan payments. The second determining factor will be the per-semester ratio of credit hours for which a class member enrolled and did not withdraw that were delivered online despite being intended for in-person instruction, and the total credit hours for which they enrolled and did not withdraw for that semester.

No action is required by University of Rochester settlement class members to receive payment, as payouts will be sent automatically. There are roughly 10,000 members of the University of Rochester COVID refund class, the settlement website relays.

Settlement payments will be sent electronically by default, but any class member who wishes to change their payment method or update their payment information must contact the settlement administrator at the address, phone number or email listed on this page.

A hearing is set for November 13, 2025 to determine whether the settlement will receive final approval from the court. Payments will begin to be distributed to class members only after final approval has been granted and any appeals have been resolved.

The University of Rochester class action lawsuit alleged that the university wrongfully charged students in-person tuition rates for classes that were moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and thus did not provide the full service for which students had paid. The class action lawsuit sought refunds for the money proposed class members spent “for educational services that were not provided,” and highlighted that the University of Rochester charged significantly less for online courses.  

Are you owed unclaimed settlement money? Check out our class action rebates page full of open class action settlements.