Current and former students at the University of Southern California may qualify for a payment from a $2 million class action settlement over certain late fees charged to student accounts.
If USC charged you late registration fees, late settlement fees, or monthly finance charges between July 14, 2016, and March 4, 2026, you could be eligible to claim up to $225.
What happened?
The lawsuit claimed USC unlawfully charged certain late fees to student accounts, including:
- Late Registration Fees
- Late Settlement Fees
- Monthly Finance Charges
According to the plaintiffs, these fees violated California law and amounted to unlawful penalties and unfair business practices.
USC denied the allegations but agreed to settle the case to avoid continued litigation costs and uncertainty.
Who is eligible?
You may qualify if:
- You are or were a student enrolled at USC
- USC charged you one or more late fees between July 14, 2016, and March 4, 2026
- You did not receive a full refund or waiver of those fees
Important: Only the student whose account was charged qualifies, even if someone else paid the fees on the student’s behalf.
How much money can you get?
Eligible class members who submit a valid claim can receive:
- 30% of the late fees USC charged them
- Maximum payment of $225
The settlement administrator will calculate payment amounts using USC’s financial records. If approved claims exceed the available settlement funds, payments may be reduced proportionally.
The settlement also includes additional non-cash relief:
- USC will waive or decline to assess at least 30% of late fees for students for two years after the settlement becomes effective
- USC will pause finance charges for 10 weeks
Your options
| Option | What It Means | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| File a Claim | Submit a claim to receive a payment | June 5, 2026 |
| Do Nothing | Remain in the settlement but receive no payment | No deadline |
| Opt Out | Keep your right to sue USC separately | May 4, 2026 |
| Object | Tell the court why you disagree with the settlement | May 4, 2026 |
| Attend Final Hearing | Attend the court’s final approval hearing | July 1, 2026 |
How to file a claim?
Class members can submit a claim online or mail a printed claim form.
To file online, class members must use the Unique ID and PIN from their settlement notice. If you lost your login information, contact the settlement administrator at:
Chaisson v. University of Southern California
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25226
Santa Ana, CA 92799
Payment Options
Eligible claimants may receive payment through:
- Credit to their USC student account
- PayPal
- Zelle
- Mailed check
If a student has a positive balance owed on their USC account when payments are processed, the payment will automatically apply to that balance.
