USC Late Fee Settlement 2026 -- Current and Former Students Can Claim Up to $225 by June 5

What happened

Class period: July 14, 2016 through March 4, 2026

• USC charged current and former students Late Registration Fees, Late Settlement Fees, and Finance Charges ("Late Fees") at any point between July 14, 2016 and March 4, 2026
• Two former students, Alejandra Chaisson and Grace Chong, filed suit alleging those fees are unlawful penalties under California Civil Code §1671, unlawful forfeitures under California Civil Code §3275, and unfair business practices under California Business & Professions Code §17200
• USC denies the allegations and maintains its fees fully comply with California law
• The parties agreed to settle for up to $2,000,000 rather than continue litigation -- without any admission of liability by USC

What you can get

Key dates

Who may qualify

• You are or were a student enrolled at the University of Southern California
• You were charged one or more Late Registration Fees, Late Settlement Fees, or Finance Charges at any time between July 14, 2016 and March 4, 2026
• You have not received a full refund or waiver of those fees from USC
• You are not someone who paid fees on behalf of a student -- parents and third-party payers are not eligible class members

How to file

1. Go to the official settlement website at uscfeesettlement.com
2. Click "Submit a Claim" and log in using the Unique ID and PIN from the notice USC sent you
3. If you cannot locate your Unique ID and PIN, email info@USCFeeSettlement.com with your full name and mailing address to request them
4. Complete the online claim form and submit it by June 5, 2026
5. Alternatively, download a paper claim form from the site and mail it with a postmark date no later than June 5, 2026, to the administrator address below

Proof required

• No supporting documents are required -- USC will calculate your payment based on its own financial records
• You will need the Unique ID and PIN from your notice to file online; if you lost them, request new ones from the administrator by email
• If you believe USC's records of your late fees are inaccurate, you may submit a written dispute with supporting documentation to the Claim Administrator by June 5, 2026

Payment timing

Payments will be issued only after the court grants final approval of the settlement. The Fairness Hearing is scheduled for July 1, 2026; if approved, appeals could extend the timeline further. You may select PayPal, Zelle, or a mailed check as your payment method. If you carry an outstanding balance on your USC student account at the time payments are processed, your payment will be applied as an account credit regardless of your stated preference. Mailed checks expire 90 days after issuance.

Important links

• Official website
• Claim form
• Important dates
• FAQs
• Documents

Contact

Extra details

• The opt-out and objection deadlines (May 4, 2026) have already passed -- class members who did not opt out are now bound by the settlement whether or not they file a claim
• Class members who do nothing will not receive a cash payment but will still benefit from USC's Late Fee Waiver and Finance Charge Pause commitments
• USC's attorneys' fees of up to $1,135,000 and a $4,000 service award per named plaintiff are paid separately by USC and do not reduce the $2,000,000 available for class member payments
• Do not contact the court or the court clerk's office about this settlement -- direct all questions to the Settlement Administrator
• Watch for scams: use only the official site at uscfeesettlement.com

FAQ

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