$1M Illinois Tech COVID Tuition Refund Settlement, Are You Getting an Automatic Payment? Deadline September 10, Hernandez, et al. v. Illinois Institute of Technology, No. 1:20-cv-03010

UPDATE LOG — Hernandez v. Illinois Institute of Technology, No. 1:20-cv-03010

May 27, 2026 — Article published. All settlement details, deadlines, eligibility criteria, and payment options verified against the official Notice of Class Action Settlement and settlement website at ILTech2020Settlement.com. All sections current as of today.

The Illinois Tech COVID tuition refund settlement is a $1,000,000 class action settlement — Hernandez, et al. v. Illinois Institute of Technology, No. 1:20-cv-03010 — filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, covering students who paid or were obligated to pay tuition and fees for the Spring 2020 semester when Illinois Tech abruptly moved all instruction online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you were an Illinois Tech student that semester, you do not need to file a claim form. Your payment comes automatically by check — but if you want it sent to a new address or paid by Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal, you must update your information by September 10, 2026.

Illinois Tech COVID Tuition Refund Settlement — Key Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$1,000,000
Claim Form Required	No — payment is automatic by check to your last known address
Payment Election Deadline	September 10, 2026 (to update address or choose Venmo/Zelle/PayPal)
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	May 28, 2026
Who Qualifies	Illinois Tech students who paid or were obligated to pay tuition, fees, or other costs for the Spring 2020 academic term
Who Does NOT Qualify	Students enrolled exclusively in online programs before March 23, 2020
Estimated Class Size	Approximately 6,200 students
Estimated Payout Per Person	TBD — net fund divided equally among all ~6,200 class members after deductions
Settlement Status	Proposed — Final Approval Hearing June 24, 2026
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois, No. 1:20-cv-03010
Specific Law Alleged	Breach of implied contract; unjust enrichment under Illinois law
Administrator	Simpluris, Inc. — (877) 272-1163 — [email protected]
Official Settlement Website	ILTech2020Settlement.com
Last Updated	May 27, 2026

Where Does the Illinois Tech Spring 2020 Tuition Refund Settlement Stand Today?

• The court granted preliminary approval of the settlement, and a Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for June 24, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. CT at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 South Dearborn Street, Courtroom 1941, Chicago, IL 60604.
• The deadlines to opt out or object have already passed as of May 28, 2026.
• Payments will be distributed within 60 days after the court’s Final Approval — class members will receive checks at their last known address on file with Illinois Tech. If you want to update your address or choose a digital payment method, visit ILTech2020Settlement.com by September 10, 2026.

Who Is Illinois Institute of Technology and Why Are They Facing a Tuition Refund Settlement?

Illinois Institute of Technology — commonly called Illinois Tech — is a private, nonprofit research university with campuses in Chicago and Wheaton, Illinois. The school offers STEM-focused undergraduate and graduate programs across engineering, architecture, law, and business, and before the pandemic, undergraduate students were not permitted to register for online classes without special approval and were generally required to live on campus. That context matters: when Illinois Tech moved everything online in March 2020, the argument was that students had paid for an in-person experience they never received.

What Did Illinois Tech Do to Spring 2020 Students When COVID-19 Hit Campus?

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading across the country, Illinois Tech suspended all in-person instruction, moved every class online, and restricted access to campus facilities for the rest of the semester. The school did not refund tuition or mandatory fees to students.

Plaintiffs Omar Hernandez and Hannah Golden filed suit in Case No. 1:20-cv-03010, alleging breach of implied contract and unjust enrichment under Illinois law. Their argument was straightforward: students paid for in-person classes, lab access, campus facilities, and on-campus services. When Illinois Tech switched to online-only instruction and locked down its campus, those students received a materially different — and lesser — product than what they had contracted and paid for, while Illinois Tech retained the full tuition payments.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the case in March 2023 after the district court had dismissed it, finding — consistent with its ruling in a similar Loyola University case — that Hernandez had alleged enough to move forward with breach of implied contract claims. Law360 reported the Seventh Circuit’s reversal of the lower court decision, clearing the path that ultimately led to this settlement.

This type of COVID-era tuition lawsuit followed the same legal blueprint across dozens of universities. If you paid for in-person instruction at other schools that went online in Spring 2020, our coverage of the $2.2M Drexel University COVID tuition settlement explains how nearly identical breach of contract and unjust enrichment claims resolved at another major university — also with automatic payments and no claim form required. Illinois Tech denies all allegations of wrongdoing and settled to avoid the expenses and uncertainty of continued litigation.

If you were an Illinois Tech student who paid for the Spring 2020 semester, this settlement directly involves you — and unlike most class actions, you do not have to file a single form to get your money.

Related article: Henderson & Walton Women’s Center Data Breach Settlement, Check If You Qualify for a Payment File by Aug 27, Kim Townsel v. Henderson & Walton Women’s Center, P.C., Case No. CV-2024-900914.00

Do You Qualify for the Illinois Tech Spring 2020 COVID Tuition Settlement?

Here is exactly how to know whether this settlement covers you.

You are a class member if:

• You were a student at Illinois Institute of Technology during the Spring 2020 academic term
• You paid, or were obligated to pay, tuition, fees, or other costs to Illinois Tech for that semester
• Your program was not offered exclusively online before March 23, 2020

You do NOT qualify if:

• You enrolled in Illinois Tech programs that were offered exclusively online prior to March 23, 2020 — those students never had an expectation of in-person instruction
• You are an Illinois Tech officer, director, employee, agent, or a family member of the judges assigned to this case

One important note: you do not need to have actually attended class or used campus facilities. The settlement covers anyone who paid or was obligated to pay for the Spring 2020 term, regardless of whether they were enrolled full-time or part-time.

Illinois Tech Spring 2020 Students Who Have Since Moved — Will You Still Get Paid?

Yes, but you need to take action. Your payment will be automatically mailed to your last known address on file with Illinois Tech. If you have moved since Spring 2020, you need to update your mailing address at ILTech2020Settlement.com before September 10, 2026, or your check may go to the wrong address. You can also choose to receive your payment by Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal through the same form — which is especially useful if you no longer have a reliable U.S. mailing address.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for the Illinois Tech COVID tuition refund settlement, a free consultation with a consumer rights lawyer can help you assess your situation before payments are distributed.

How Much Can Illinois Tech Spring 2020 Students Recover from the $1,000,000 Settlement?

The total $1,000,000 settlement fund is subject to deductions before any money reaches students. Class counsel will ask the court to approve attorneys’ fees of up to 33.33% of the fund ($333,300), plus reimbursement of litigation expenses. Each of the two named class representatives may receive up to $5,000 each. Settlement administration costs also come from the fund.

What Illinois Tech Spring 2020 Students Could Receive from This Settlement

After all approved deductions, the remaining net fund gets divided equally among all approximately 6,200 settlement class members. Because the distribution is equal — not based on how much you paid in tuition — every qualifying student gets the same amount.

Based on the estimated 6,200 class members and the $1,000,000 gross fund, individual payments are expected to be modest — roughly in the range of $80 to $100 per person once fees and costs are deducted, though the exact amount will depend on final court-approved deductions and actual participation. No minimum or maximum individual payment is specified in the settlement notice.

Because you do not need to file a claim, the number of class members receiving payment is tied to Illinois Tech’s own records — not voluntary opt-ins. Payments from class action settlements may be reportable as income depending on your tax situation — consult a tax professional if you have questions.

How Illinois Tech Spring 2020 Students Get Their Settlement Payment — Step by Step

Most students need to do nothing. If your mailing address is current in Illinois Tech’s records, your check will arrive automatically within 60 days after final court approval. That said, here is exactly what you should do right now:

1. Check whether Illinois Tech has your current address on file. If you have moved since Spring 2020, you almost certainly need to update it.
2. Visit ILTech2020Settlement.com/form/claim to update your mailing address, or to elect payment by Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal instead of a check.
3. Complete the election form by September 10, 2026 — that is the hard deadline for any payment preference or address update.
4. If you take no action and your address is correct in Illinois Tech’s records, your check will be mailed automatically after final court approval.
5. Watch your mail within 60 days of the Final Approval order. Uncashed checks that are not cashed within 120 days of issuance may be reissued if the remaining funds make it economically feasible to do so.
6. Contact the settlement administrator at (877) 272-1163 or [email protected] if you have questions about your payment status.

Takes about 3 minutes to complete the election form online.

Should Illinois Tech Students Opt Out or Object to This Settlement?

What Opting Out of the Illinois Tech Settlement Means for Your Rights

The opt-out deadline of May 28, 2026 has already passed. If you did not submit a written opt-out request by that date, you are bound by the settlement and will receive your automatic payment. Opting out would have allowed you to pursue your own individual lawsuit against Illinois Tech, but would have forfeited your settlement share. If you did opt out, consult an employment discrimination attorney about your options for individual litigation — but be aware that statute of limitations issues may apply.

How to Object to the Illinois Tech Settlement Terms

The objection deadline of May 28, 2026 has also passed. If you submitted a timely written objection to the court on or before that date, the court will consider your written comments at the Final Approval Hearing on June 24, 2026. You may appear at that hearing to address the court, or the court will consider your written objection without your appearance.

If you are considering any further steps regarding this settlement, speaking with a class action lawsuit attorney is recommended.

Illinois Tech COVID Tuition Refund Lawsuit Timeline

Milestone	Date
Spring 2020 semester — class period begins	January 2020
Illinois Tech moves all classes online, closes campus	March 2020
Hernandez files class action lawsuit	May 20, 2020
U.S. District Court dismisses case	2021
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reverses dismissal	March 27, 2023
Case remanded to Northern District of Illinois for further proceedings	March 2023
Settlement reached between parties	2025–2026
Court grants preliminary approval	2026
Opt-out and objection deadline	May 28, 2026
Class counsel fee motion due	June 12, 2026
Final Approval Hearing, Courtroom 1941, Chicago	June 24, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. CT
Payment election form deadline	September 10, 2026
Expected payment distribution	TBD — within 60 days after Final Approval and resolution of any appeals

Illinois Tech COVID Tuition Refund Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 1:20-cv-03010

Is there an active settlement for Illinois Tech Spring 2020 students right now?

Yes. Illinois Institute of Technology agreed to pay $1,000,000 to resolve Case No. 1:20-cv-03010, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The settlement has received preliminary approval and awaits final court approval at the June 24, 2026 hearing in Chicago.

Do Illinois Tech Spring 2020 students need to fill out a claim form to get paid?

No. This is one of the simplest settlement processes available — eligible class members receive an automatic payment by check mailed to their last known address on Illinois Tech’s records. You only need to take action if you want to update your address or receive payment via Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal instead.

What if I moved after Spring 2020 and Illinois Tech has my old address?

You need to update your mailing address before September 10, 2026 at ILTech2020Settlement.com/form/claim. If you do not update your address and the check goes to the wrong location, you may miss your payment entirely. Updating takes about three minutes.

How much will each Illinois Tech student receive from this settlement?

The net fund — after attorneys’ fees, class representative awards, and administrative costs are deducted from the $1,000,000 total — gets divided equally among approximately 6,200 class members. Individual payments are estimated in the range of $80 to $100 per person, though the final amount depends on what the court approves for fees and expenses at the June 24, 2026 hearing.

What specific legal claims does this Illinois Tech settlement resolve?

The lawsuit alleged breach of implied contract and unjust enrichment under Illinois law — that Illinois Tech retained full tuition and fee payments while delivering online instruction instead of the in-person education, campus access, and services that students had contracted and paid for. Illinois Tech denies all allegations and settled to avoid the cost and risk of further litigation.

I was a fully online student at Illinois Tech before the pandemic. Do I qualify?

No. Students enrolled in Illinois Tech programs that were offered exclusively online before March 23, 2020 are specifically excluded from the settlement class. The settlement covers only students who expected and paid for an in-person experience that was taken away by the pandemic.

Can I still opt out of the Illinois Tech settlement?

No. The opt-out deadline was May 28, 2026 and has passed. If you did not submit a written opt-out request by that date, you are bound by the settlement and its release of claims. You will receive your automatic payment after final court approval.

Will my Illinois Tech settlement payment be reported to the IRS?

It may be. Settlement payments can have tax implications depending on their nature and your circumstances. Consult a tax professional after you receive your payment to understand any reporting obligations.

Sources Used in This Illinois Tech COVID Tuition Refund Settlement Article

• Official Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement — Hernandez, et al. v. Illinois Institute of Technology, No. 1:20-cv-03010, U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois: https://cw.simpluris.com/docs/public/downloads/IHC/NOTICE_OF_CLASS_ACTION_SETTLEMENT
• Official Settlement Website — Simpluris, Settlement Administrator: https://iltech2020settlement.com
• Justia — Seventh Circuit opinion reinstating case, March 27, 2023: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca7/22-1741/22-1741-2023-03-27.html

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the official Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement and the settlement website at ILTech2020Settlement.com. Last Updated: May 27, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.