Columbia, Pace, Drexel University Students Suing Over COVID-19 Refunds
Columbia, Pace, Drexel University and more are being sued by its students seeking partial refunds on tuition and fees amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
At least one student from each of the two New York schools (Columbia and Pace) has filed a class-action lawsuit, representing all other students who are in similar situations; that being that they’ve paid for in-person classroom instruction and on-campus resources, and are now only being offered online sessions as campuses remain closed.
RELATED: United Airlines Facing Lawsuit For Refusing Refunds Amid COVID-19
Furthermore, in the Columbia student’s complaint, filed on Thursday (Apr. 23) in a Manhattan federal court, they state that the tuition for an online degree is “significantly lower” than that if they were enrolled on-campus. The figures showed that the online-only degree was about 17 percent cheaper than a traditional degree.
On the lack of resources, they wholly state,“[The university’s decisions] deprived plaintiff and the other members of the class from recognizing the benefits of in-person instruction, access to campus facilities, student activities and other benefits and services.”
RELATED: Six Flags Sued For Billing Pass Holders During Coronavirus Pandemic
It’s reported that students at Drexel University, Michigan State, Purdue and Liberty Universities are also suing for similar reasons.