People enrolled at the University of Phoenix at any time from April 1, 2023 through October 6, 2026, or from April 1, 2020 for Illinois students, may qualify to claim $25 from the University of Phoenix pixel tracking class action settlement. Claims are due November 5, 2026.
Current Status
Claims are open. Claim forms must be submitted online or postmarked by November 5, 2026, which is also the deadline to opt out or object. The Sangamon County, Illinois court has granted preliminary approval and will hold the final approval hearing on November 20, 2026. No payments have been made, and none will be until the court grants final approval.Free settlement alerts
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What Changed Recently?
Class members began receiving email notices in early October 2026, and the court-authorized settlement website is now accepting claims. The case, Brand v. The University of Phoenix, Inc., No. 2026LA000170, was filed on July 21, 2026, in the Circuit Court for Sangamon County, Illinois, after the parties had already mediated and signed a term sheet. The plaintiffs allege the university disclosed students’ personally identifiable information to Meta Platforms and other third parties through tracking tools on its websites without consent, in violation of the federal Video Privacy Protection Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and the Illinois Eavesdropping Act. The University of Phoenix denies that it violated any law and agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of litigation.Who Qualifies?
The settlement class includes:- Everyone in the United States who was enrolled at the University of Phoenix at any time from April 1, 2023 through October 6, 2026.
- Everyone in Illinois who was enrolled at the University of Phoenix at any time from April 1, 2020 through October 6, 2026.
To be paid, a class member also has to sign the claim form’s declaration, under penalty of perjury, that they visited a website owned or operated by the University of Phoenix during that period, that their browser was not set to block cookies or tracking, and that they did not use a privacy extension to block cookies. Entities controlled by the university, its officers and directors, and the presiding judge and immediate family are excluded.
How Much Can You Get?
Each approved claim is worth $25, and each class member can file one claim. The payment drops below $25 only if the settlement’s total cost reaches its Gross Maximum Funding amount of $8.75 million. That cap covers more than claims: attorneys’ fees of up to 35% (up to $3,062,500), service awards of up to $5,000 for each of the two class representatives, and the cost of notice and administration also come out of it. By OCA’s arithmetic, about $5.68 million would remain for claims and administration if the full fee and award requests are granted, enough for roughly 227,000 full $25 payments before administration costs. The agreement raises the cap by $25 per person if the class turns out to have more than 385,000 members.The University of Phoenix also agreed to tell people who enroll through its website, by a banner and in its privacy policy, that the site uses cookies and similar tools.
What Proof or Notice ID Is Required?
Online claims require the LoginID and PIN printed at the top left of the email notice. The notice treats them as proof of class membership. Class members who did not receive the email can request their LoginID and PIN from the settlement administrator through the official settlement website by providing their full name and mailing address. No receipts or enrollment records are requested, but the claim form includes the sworn declaration described above.What Is the Deadline?
Claims must be submitted online by November 5, 2026, or mailed with a postmark no later than that date. Requests to be excluded and objections are due the same day. People who do nothing receive no payment and give up the right to sue the University of Phoenix over the claims the settlement releases, which cover tracking tools such as the Meta Pixel on its websites.How Do You Take Action?
Claims are filed on the University of Phoenix Pixel Settlement website, run by the administrator Simpluris, by logging in with the LoginID and PIN, completing the form and choosing a payment method. A printable claim form is also available there for mailing. The notice, settlement agreement and other court documents are posted on the site’s Important Documents page.What Happens Next?
Judge Gail L. Noll will consider final approval, the fee request and the service awards at a hearing at 9:30 a.m. on November 20, 2026, held virtually; the date or time may change without notice. If the settlement is approved, the notice estimates payments about 100 days after final approval and any appeals are complete. Payment is by check unless the claimant picks Zelle, Venmo, PayPal or another electronic option, and checks not cashed within 180 days revert to the University of Phoenix.This settlement is separate from the Federal Trade Commission’s refunds to former University of Phoenix students, which OCA covered in University of Phoenix FTC Refunds Sent by Zelle.
Sources and Verification
• University of Phoenix Pixel Settlement — official website, FAQ and claim form (Simpluris)• Long Form Notice, Brand v. The University of Phoenix, Inc., No. 2026LA000170 (embedded below)
• Class Action Settlement Agreement, Brand v. The University of Phoenix, Inc., Circuit Court of Sangamon County, Illinois, Seventh Judicial Circuit
Questions
Is this the same as the University of Phoenix FTC refund?
No. The FTC refunds come from the agency’s 2019 settlement over University of Phoenix advertising. This is a separate 2026 private class action in Illinois state court over website tracking tools, with its own class, claim form and deadline.
What if a student never received a LoginID and PIN?
The online claim form requires the LoginID and PIN printed at the top of the email notice. Students who believe they are in the class but did not get the email can request their LoginID and PIN from the settlement administrator through the official settlement website by giving their full name and mailing address. A printable claim form can also be mailed.
Does every enrolled student qualify for the $25?
Enrollment places a student in the class, but the claim form asks the claimant to declare under penalty of perjury that they visited a University of Phoenix website during the class period, that their browser was not set to block cookies or tracking, and that they did not use a privacy extension to block cookies.
Could the $25 payment be reduced?
Only if the total cost of the settlement reaches its $8.75 million Gross Maximum Funding amount, which also has to cover attorneys’ fees, administration costs and service awards. In that case every $25 payment would be reduced proportionally. The cap rises by $25 per person if the class turns out to be larger than 385,000 people.
How and when are University of Phoenix settlement payments sent?
Payment is by check unless the claimant chooses Zelle, Venmo, PayPal or a similar electronic option on the claim form. The notice estimates payments about 100 days after final approval and any appeals. Under the settlement agreement, checks not cashed within 180 days are void and the money goes back to the University of Phoenix.
