SNHU Class Action Lawsuit: Students Sue Over GPA Data Shared With TikTok and Google
Two Southern New Hampshire University students filed a class action lawsuit on December 20, 2025, claiming SNHU illegally shares sensitive student information—including GPAs, ethnicities, gender identities, and financial aid data—with Google and TikTok through tracking tools on its student portal. The lawsuit alleges violations of federal student privacy law (FERPA) and seeks to represent all 183,000+ students who use mySNHU.
What the Lawsuit Claims
The complaint filed in New Hampshire federal court accuses SNHU of embedding Google Analytics and TikTok Pixel tracking software on mySNHU, the portal students use to access courses, grades, and academic records.
According to the lawsuit, these tools collect and transmit:
- Full names and contact information
- Cumulative GPAs and course descriptions
- Ethnicities and gender identities
- Military and career status
- Financial aid application information
The plaintiffs’ attorneys argue SNHU shares this data to boost marketing efforts and grow enrollment, violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
“Why an educational institution like SNHU would choose to disclose this vast trove of private information is simple: to help the university market itself and grow its student base,” wrote attorneys Tina Zeolla and Kirsten Kellogg from Weintraum Law and Siri & Glimstad.
The lawsuit includes redacted screenshots showing what information allegedly gets transmitted to Google and TikTok when students log into the portal.
SNHU’s Response
SNHU spokesperson Siobhan Lopez issued a statement acknowledging the lawsuit: “SNHU takes data privacy seriously and remains committed to protecting the privacy of our students, faculty, and staff in accordance with applicable law.”
The university confirmed it’s reviewing the allegations but provided no further details about its tracking practices or plans to remove the tools.
Why This Lawsuit Matters
SNHU operates one of the largest online education programs in the country with over 180,000 distance-learning students and approximately 3,000 on-campus students at its Manchester campus.
If the court certifies this as a class action, potentially all students who have accessed mySNHU could be included.
The scope of data allegedly shared appears broader than in similar university tracking cases. Most prior lawsuits involved basic contact information like names, emails, and zip codes.
In 2022, The Markup reported the Department of Education used Meta Pixel on the FAFSA website, which shared names, email addresses, and zip codes with Facebook. The SNHU case alleges far more sensitive academic and personal information was shared.
Understanding FERPA and Student Privacy Rights
FERPA is a federal law enacted in 1974 that protects the privacy of student education records. It applies to all schools receiving federal funding.
What FERPA protects:
- Schools must obtain written permission before releasing personally identifiable information from education records
- Protected information includes grades, test scores, course enrollment, financial aid details, and demographic data
- Students over 18 (or attending college) have control over their own records
What data tracking involves:
Google Analytics and TikTok Pixel are tools that website operators use to track visitor behavior and gather data for advertising purposes.
When installed on student portals, these tools can access whatever information appears on those pages—potentially including sensitive academic and personal data.
The Legal Challenge Ahead
FERPA lawsuits face a significant legal hurdle established by the Supreme Court in Gonzaga University v. Doe (2002): FERPA does not create a private right of action for individuals to sue schools directly for violations.
Instead, enforcement happens through the Department of Education’s Family Policy Compliance Office, which investigates complaints and works to bring schools into voluntary compliance.
However, students can potentially sue under:
- State consumer protection laws
- Breach of contract claims
- State privacy statutes
- Negligence theories
The SNHU plaintiffs likely structured their claims to work around FERPA’s limitations by invoking state law causes of action.
What This Means for Students
If you’re a current or former SNHU student:
You may be part of the class if the court certifies it. Class members typically receive notice by mail or email about the lawsuit and their rights.
You have three options:
- Stay in the class – Automatically included if certified; any settlement or judgment applies to you
- Opt out – Preserve your right to sue independently
- Object – Remain in the class but formally oppose the settlement terms
Check these resources:
- Look for legal notices on the SNHU website or in your email
- Visit class action settlement websites for updates
- Contact the plaintiffs’ attorneys if you have questions
University Data Tracking Is Growing
Educational technology expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Universities increasingly use third-party tools for analytics, marketing, and student engagement.
Cases involving third-party sharing rose 34% in 2024, driven by educational technology expansion.
Many universities embed tracking pixels from social media platforms and advertising networks on their public-facing websites. The controversy arises when these tools appear on password-protected student portals containing sensitive academic information.
What Happens Next
The lawsuit is in its early stages. Key upcoming milestones:
Class certification hearing – The court must decide whether to certify this as a class action representing all affected students
Discovery phase – Both sides exchange documents and evidence about SNHU’s tracking practices
Motion to dismiss – SNHU will likely argue the case should be thrown out on legal grounds
Settlement negotiations – Many class actions settle before trial
The timeline could take 1-3 years depending on how aggressively both sides litigate.
Precedents From Similar Cases
Other universities have faced lawsuits over tracking students online:
A 2022 case against the University of California system alleged similar tracking pixel violations. That case resulted in the university removing tracking tools from student portals.
Multiple universities settled lawsuits in 2023-2024 over sharing student data with Facebook and Google through tracking pixels on financial aid pages.
Courts have shown increasing willingness to allow these cases to proceed past early dismissal motions, recognizing student privacy concerns in the digital age.
FAQ: SNHU Class Action Lawsuit
Q: When was this lawsuit filed?
The class action complaint was filed on December 20, 2025, in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire.
Q: Who are the plaintiffs?
Two SNHU students, residents of Massachusetts and Michigan, filed the lawsuit seeking to represent all students who accessed mySNHU.
Q: What does the lawsuit claim?
It alleges SNHU violates FERPA by embedding Google Analytics and TikTok Pixel on its student portal, allowing these companies to collect sensitive student information without consent.
Q: What information was allegedly shared?
GPAs, ethnicities, gender identities, military status, career status, financial aid data, course descriptions, and contact information.
Q: Can students sue for FERPA violations?
Not directly. The Supreme Court ruled FERPA doesn’t allow private lawsuits. But students can sue under state consumer protection laws and other legal theories.
Q: What penalties does FERPA impose?
The Department of Education can withdraw federal funding from schools that violate FERPA. However, this penalty has never been imposed.
Q: Am I part of this class action?
If the court certifies the class, anyone who accessed mySNHU would potentially be included. Class members receive official notice.
Q: What could students receive if they win?
Potential remedies include monetary damages, injunctions requiring SNHU to stop sharing data, changes to privacy policies, and attorney fees.
Q: How long will this case take?
Class action lawsuits typically take 1-3 years to resolve through settlement or trial.
Q: Should I opt out of the class?
That depends on your situation. Staying in the class means you’re bound by the settlement or judgment. Opting out preserves your right to sue independently.
Q: Has SNHU removed the tracking tools?
SNHU has not publicly stated whether it removed Google Analytics or TikTok Pixel from mySNHU following the lawsuit.
Q: Are other universities doing this?
Yes. Many universities use analytics tools on their websites. The controversy arises when these tools are on password-protected student portals containing sensitive data.
Q: Where can I find updates on this case?
Monitor the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire’s PACER system (case number will be assigned), check the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ websites, and watch for class action notice websites.
Q: Can this affect my privacy at other schools?
Potentially. If this lawsuit succeeds, it could prompt other universities to review their tracking practices and remove similar tools from student portals.
Q: What should SNHU students do now?
Monitor your email and mail for official class action notices. Consider reviewing SNHU’s privacy policies. Document any concerns about your data privacy.
Last Updated: December 24, 2025
This article provides general information about the SNHU class action lawsuit and should not be construed as legal advice. If you believe your rights have been violated, consult with a qualified attorney.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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