$800K Widener University COVID-19 Tuition Fee Settlement, Are You Eligible for a Payment? Deadline is May 26, 2026

Widener University agreed to pay $800,000 to settle a class action lawsuit filed by students who paid for in-person classes during the spring 2020 semester — then had those classes moved online due to COVID-19. The lawsuit alleged breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Eligible students receive an automatic cash payment with no claim form required. The opt-out and objection deadline is May 26, 2026, and the final approval hearing is June 30, 2026.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$800,000
Claim Deadline	No claim form required — automatic payment
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	May 26, 2026
Who Qualifies	Widener students enrolled in at least one in-person class, Spring 2020, who satisfied their tuition/fee payment obligation
Payout Per Person	Pro-rata share of net settlement fund (exact amount TBD)
Proof Required	Not applicable — automatic payment via university records
Settlement Status	Preliminarily Approved
Administrator	RG/2 Claims Administration LLC — 1-866-742-4955 / [email protected]
Official Website	widenercovidsettlement.com

Current Status and What Happens Next

• The court has preliminarily approved the settlement (Sparacino v. Widener University, Civil Action No. 2:24-cv-01001, E.D. Pa.). The settlement administrator has already mailed and emailed notices to potential class members.
• Students who want to opt out or object must act by May 26, 2026 — the same date for both actions.
• The final approval hearing is currently scheduled for June 30, 2026, at which the court will consider whether the proposed settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If approved, the administrator distributes payments within 60 days of final approval and resolution of any appeals.

What Is the Widener University COVID Lawsuit About?

When COVID-19 swept the United States in March 2020, Widener University — a private university in Chester, Pennsylvania — closed its campus and moved all classes to remote instruction. Students had already paid tuition and fees for a full semester of in-person education, campus access, and on-site resources. Plaintiff Sparacino filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, arguing that Widener’s pivot to online classes denied students what they had actually paid for.

Most COVID-19 college tuition class actions focus on breach of contract, claiming students paid tuition fees with the expectation that they would be receiving more than online classes. The Widener lawsuit made the same two core legal claims: breach of contract (Widener failed to deliver what it promised) and unjust enrichment (Widener kept full tuition for services it no longer provided).

Widener University agreed to pay $800,000 to settle the proposed class action accusing the school of failing to provide the in-person education and campus services students paid for during the spring 2020 semester. Widener denies all wrongdoing, and no court has made a finding of liability. The university agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation.

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Who Is Eligible to Receive a Payment from This Settlement?

If you were a student enrolled at Widener during the Spring 2020 semester whose payment obligation of tuition and/or fees was satisfied for that semester, and were enrolled in at least one in-person on-campus class, then you qualify as a potential settlement class member.

In plain terms:

• You may qualify if you attended Widener University during the Spring 2020 semester.
• You may qualify if you were enrolled in at least one in-person, on-campus class that semester — fully online-only enrollments do not count.
• You may qualify if you or someone on your behalf (a parent, employer, or third-party payer) satisfied the tuition and/or fee payment obligation for that semester.
• You may qualify if you received a settlement notice by mail or email — this is the strongest indicator that Widener’s records already confirm your eligibility.
• You do NOT qualify if your total payment obligation was fully covered by scholarships, grants, or credits — meaning you paid nothing out of pocket in any form.
• You do NOT qualify if you made no payment contribution toward tuition or fees for Spring 2020.

How Much Will You Receive from This Settlement?

The payout per person is not yet determined. The exact amount each eligible student receives depends on the total number of class members identified through Widener’s records and the final deductions from the $800,000 fund.

Here is how the fund breaks down before payments reach students:

Attorneys’ fees run up to $266,400, and the service award to the class representative is up to $2,500. Settlement administration costs and attorneys’ expenses are still to be determined. The remaining amount goes to eligible class members.

In addition to a cash payment, each class member also receives two non-cash benefits at no cost:

• Five complimentary tickets to regular-season Widener athletic events (men’s or women’s), valid from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, subject to ticket availability.
• Free access to Widener’s Pride Recreation Center during the same July 2026 – June 2027 window.

These non-cash benefits are available to all class members whether or not they currently attend or plan to visit Widener.

How to Get Your Payment (No Claim Form Required)

Eligible students do not need to file a claim. Here is what the process looks like:

Step 1 — Do nothing and receive a check automatically. If the court approves the settlement, your payment in the form of a paper check will be sent by first-class U.S. Mail to your permanent mailing address currently on file with Widener.

Step 2 — Update your address if you have moved. If Widener’s records have an old address, your check will go to the wrong place. Submit an election form at widenercovidsettlement.com/claims_filing.html to provide a current address. You will need the class member code and PIN from your settlement notice.

Step 3 — Switch to Venmo or PayPal if preferred. If you want a digital payment instead of a paper check, submit that preference through the same election form online or by downloading, printing, and mailing a paper version to the administrator.

Step 4 — Complete any election form within 45 days of the effective date. The effective date will be posted on the settlement website after the June 30, 2026 final approval hearing. The administrator will also mail the form deadline directly to class members.

Step 5 — Cash your check promptly. Paper checks expire — do not let them sit. Cash or deposit your payment as soon as it arrives.

Step 6 — Watch for non-cash benefit details. Instructions for redeeming your five athletic event tickets and gym access at Widener will arrive separately, valid July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Estimated time to complete (for address update or payment preference): 5 minutes online.

Important Deadlines and Dates

Milestone	Date
Spring 2020 Class Period	January 2020 – May 2020
Lawsuit Filed	March 2024
Preliminary Approval Granted	Early 2026
Notice Mailed to Class Members	April 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	May 26, 2026
Objection Deadline	May 26, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	June 30, 2026
Election Form Deadline (address/payment)	45 days after effective date (posted post-June 30, 2026)
Expected Payment Date	Within 60 days of final approval (est. late 2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

I graduated in 2020 — can I still get paid from this Widener settlement? 

Yes. The settlement covers all students who were enrolled and paid tuition or fees for the Spring 2020 semester, regardless of whether they are current or former students. Alumni are fully eligible as long as they meet the class criteria.

My parents paid my tuition — do I still qualify?

 Yes. Class members are eligible whether they paid the tuition and/or fees themselves or someone paid it on their behalf. The key requirement is that the payment obligation was satisfied — not who wrote the check.

Do I need a lawyer to receive my payment from this settlement? 

No. Eligible students receive payment automatically based on Widener’s enrollment records. You only need to act if you want to update your address, switch to a digital payment method, or opt out of the settlement entirely. If you want to opt out and pursue your own individual lawsuit, consulting an employment or education attorney before May 26, 2026 is advisable.

Is this Widener COVID settlement legitimate? 

Yes. The case is Sparacino v. Widener University, Civil Action No. 2:24-cv-01001, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. RG/2 Claims Administration LLC, a professional settlement administrator, manages all payments. The only official settlement website is widenercovidsettlement.com.

When will I receive my payment? 

The settlement administrator will distribute payments to eligible class members within 60 days after the court resolves any appeals and grants final approval to the settlement. The final approval hearing is June 30, 2026. If no appeals delay the process, expect payment by early fall 2026.

What if I missed the May 26, 2026 opt-out deadline? 

If you miss the opt-out deadline, you remain in the class and receive an automatic payment. You also give up the right to file your own individual lawsuit against Widener for claims related to the Spring 2020 remote learning transition. Note that even if you wanted to sue independently, the statute of limitations may impact your ability to file your own lawsuit.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes?

 Possibly. Settlement payments for breach of contract and unjust enrichment claims may be treated as taxable income by the IRS. The tax treatment can vary based on how the payment is classified. Consult a tax professional about whether you need to report the payment on your federal or state return.

Why is the payout amount unknown right now? 

The per-person payment is pro-rata, meaning the net settlement fund divides equally among all confirmed class members. Until the administrator finishes verifying eligibility through Widener’s records and the court finalizes attorney fee deductions after the June 30, 2026 hearing, the exact headcount and final per-person amount remain unknown. Watch the settlement website for updates after the hearing.

Sources and References

1. Official Settlement Website: widenercovidsettlement.com
2. Long Form Notice (PDF): widenercovidsettlement.com/pdf/Long_Form_Notice.pdf
3. Stipulation of Settlement (PDF): widenercovidsettlement.com/pdf/Stipulation_of_Settlement.pdf
4. Court Docket — Eastern District of Pennsylvania: Sparacino v. Widener University, Civil Action No. 2:24-cv-01001

Last Updated: April 15, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.