House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, and other congressional leaders have requested information from Ivy League schools regarding potential collusion in tuition pricing. This action involves letters sent to eight institutions: Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.
The leaders express concern that the Ivy League's practices might violate the Sherman Act, noting that these institutions might still benefit from previous collusion activities despite losing antitrust exemption status. They suggest that the higher education market may not be operating correctly and is possibly infringing on antitrust laws.
These allegations are supported by examples including the role of the Council of Ivy League Presidents, which may influence overall standards by standardizing the admissions process. The College Board and Common Application are also mentioned in lawsuits alleging their involvement in reducing financial aid and artificially raising application fees, respectively.
Criticism extends to the influence of U.S. News and World Report's college rankings, which may affect both educational output and pricing. The use of software and algorithms in the admissions process, binding early decision programs, and the requirement for campus housing and meal plans are also noted as factors undermining competitive practices.
The letter also highlights concerns over how institutions manage funds for federally funded research projects, pointing to a potential lack of competition for public funding.
For detailed information, full letters to each of the eight universities are available.
