Fordham University students who were enrolled in at least one in-person class in spring 2020, paid tuition or mandatory fees, and were still enrolled on March 1, 2020 will be paid automatically from Fordham’s $2,549,490 COVID tuition class action settlement; there is no claim form to file. December 14, 2026 is the deadline to choose PayPal or Venmo instead of a check, opt out or object.
Current Status
The Fordham settlement has preliminary court approval and pays eligible class members automatically, so there is no claim to file. December 14, 2026 is the deadline to submit the optional Election Form to be paid by PayPal or Venmo, to opt out, or to object. The final approval hearing is January 13, 2027, at 2:15 p.m. Final approval has not been granted, and no payment date has been announced.Free settlement alerts
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What Changed Recently?
The case is Conley v. Fordham University, Index No. 810808/2025E, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Bronx County, before Justice Sophia B. Hershman. Two students first sued in federal court in 2023; those cases were dismissed without prejudice in May 2025 and refiled together in Bronx County that month.The lawsuit alleged that Fordham breached its contract with students when it moved classes online and closed campus services and facilities in mid-March 2020, and sought a prorated refund of tuition and fees. Fordham denies all liability and wrongdoing, and the court has not decided who is right. The court granted preliminary approval on September 30, 2026. Notices were emailed on October 28 and mailed on November 4, 2026.
Who Qualifies?
The settlement class is all students enrolled in at least one class originally scheduled to meet in person at Fordham during the spring 2020 semester who paid, or had someone pay on their behalf, tuition and/or mandatory fees for that semester, and who were still enrolled as of March 1, 2020.Students who were enrolled only in online classes at the start of the semester, who paid no tuition or fees, or who left Fordham before March 1, 2020 do not receive a payment. People who previously released claims against Fordham about their enrollment are excluded, along with the presiding justice and Fordham’s own officers, directors and employees.
How Much Can You Get?
Fordham will pay $2,549,490. Before class members are paid, the fund covers court-approved attorneys’ fees of up to $849,830 (one-third) plus up to $20,000 in costs, $3,000 service awards for each of the two named plaintiffs, and administration costs expected to be no more than $50,000. If the court approves all of those amounts in full, about $1.62 million would be left for students. That is an OCA estimate, not a figure from the settlement.The net fund is split into two pools: 65% for undergraduate students and 35% for graduate students. Within each pool, a student’s share is based on the net tuition and fees paid for spring 2020, divided by the total net tuition and fees all students in that pool paid. Fordham aid, grants and other reductions that do not have to be repaid, and any unpaid balances, are not counted as paid.
Because shares depend on how much each student paid, there is no single per-person figure. Each class member’s estimated award and the net tuition Fordham’s records show are printed on the notice. The settlement agreement also allows a minimum payment floor, with $15 given as an example.
What Proof or Notice ID Is Required?
None to be paid. Payment is automatic, and a check is mailed to the last known address on file. The online Election Form, which is used only to choose PayPal or Venmo instead of a check, asks for the Notice ID and Login ID printed on the notice. The Election Form is optional and does not affect whether a class member is paid.What Is the Deadline?
There is no claim deadline. December 14, 2026 is the deadline to submit an Election Form, to opt out, and to object; mailed forms must be postmarked by that date. The settlement agreement allows an extra 15 days for an Election Form from class members who could not file on time because of a change of address, military service, hospitalization or other extraordinary circumstances.How Do You Take Action?
Nothing is required to receive a check. The optional e-payment choice is made on the Electronic Payment page of the settlement website, using the Notice ID and Login ID from the notice. The official settlement website explains how to opt out or object and posts the court documents.What Happens Next?
The court will hold the final approval hearing on January 13, 2027, at 2:15 p.m. in Bronx County Supreme Court. Under the settlement agreement, Fordham funds the settlement no earlier than December 1, 2026 and within 30 days after the approval becomes final, and the administrator sends payments within 30 days after it receives the money. Checks are void 150 days after they are issued. Money left over after the last checks expire goes back to Fordham for a scholarship fund or an emergency relief fund for students. No payment date has been announced.Sources and Verification
- Official Conley v. Fordham University settlement website — eligibility, options and important dates
- Settlement FAQs — payment formula, opt-out and objection rules
- Court documents — notice, Class Settlement Agreement (filed May 8, 2026) and preliminary approval order (filed October 5, 2026)
Questions
How is each Fordham student’s payment calculated?
The net fund is split into an undergraduate pool (65%) and a graduate pool (35%). Within each pool, a student’s share is their net spring 2020 tuition and fees divided by the total net tuition and fees all students in that pool paid. Fordham aid, grants and other reductions that do not have to be repaid, and unpaid balances, are not counted as paid. Each class member’s estimated award is printed on their notice.
Does a Fordham student who paid with loans count as having paid?
The settlement excludes only Fordham aid, grants and other reductions that do not require repayment, plus unpaid balances. Payments made by the student or on the student’s behalf count toward the net tuition and fees used to figure each share; the amount Fordham’s records show is printed on the notice.
How long are Fordham settlement checks good for?
Settlement checks are void 150 days after they are issued. Money left over after the last checks expire goes back to Fordham for a general scholarship fund or an emergency relief fund for Fordham students.
Who is not eligible for the Fordham settlement?
Students enrolled only in online classes at the start of spring 2020, students who paid no tuition or fees, and students who left Fordham before March 1, 2020 are not eligible for a payment.
