Facts

Plaintiffs are students who applied for and accepted admission during the 2002-2003 academic year and began their programs in 2003-2004 or thereafter.

At the time the students accepted admission, the University of California advertised a policy, in place since 1994, of keeping the professional degree fee constant for the duration of students' enrollment and imposing increases on new students only. The professional degree fee is the largest component of the cost of professional degree students' education.

After plaintiffs enrolled, the University began raising fees, in some cases by over $7,000 per year. Plaintiffs sued in a class action on behalf of all similarly-situated students, claiming breach of contract.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiffs contended that the University's published statements, indicating that it would keep the professional degree fee constant, became a binding term of their contracts entered into when they accepted the University's offer of admission. By raising the fees in later years, the University breached that contract term.

Result

Holding that the University breached a binding contract term, the court awarded plaintiffs approximately $38 million in overcharged fees, including pre-judgment interest.