Analysis of Higher Education Tuition Disclosures and Class-Wide Damages

Vega Economics supported two experts on behalf of plaintiffs in a class action involving allegations that a university misrepresented the total cost of its doctoral programs by failing to adequately disclose additional tuition expenses. The experts addressed how prospective students interpreted the university's pricing disclosures and how damages could be calculated using a common methodology.

Professor David Gal of the University of Illinois Chicago evaluated how the university communicated tuition and fee information to prospective students and whether its disclosures adequately conveyed the total cost of completing a doctoral program. He designed and analyzed a consumer survey to assess how prospective students interpreted advertised prices and whether additional course costs were reflected in their expectations.

Daphne Chen, PhD, Managing Director at Vega Economics, developed a common methodology for calculating damages across the proposed class and state subclasses. Her analysis examined additional tuition charges for continuation courses, considered the role of financial aid, and demonstrated how the methodology could be applied to the named plaintiffs.