A class action lawsuit accusing dozens of private colleges and universities

MANCHESTER, N.H. — A class action lawsuit accusing dozens of private colleges and universities of price-fixing tuitions has been filed. A Boston University student and a Cornell alum allege that 40 schools, including Dartmouth College, consider the financial backgrounds of noncustodial parents when determining financial aid. The lawsuit says this practice causes students to pay about $62,000 more to attend compared to other private schools that do not consider noncustodial parents’ income. It seeks more than $5 million in damages.