Appeals Court Upholds $33.8 Million Ruling Against UC for Hiking Professional Degree Program Fees
[Posted 11/08/07]

The University of California (UC) has to give back $33.8 million to 9,000 students who attended its professional schools in 2003, including 2,571 medical students, according to a ruling issued by the California Court of Appeal last week.

In 2006, a California Superior Court judge found the university system in breach of contract for raising tuition and ordered it to pay back the students the fee hikes plus interest.

UC had promised on its website and in its catalogues that professional degree program fees would not be raised for the duration of a student's enrollment and that increases would only apply to new entering students. In 2003, however, fee increases were applied to both continuing and entering students.

For Janet Lee, M.D., the named medical student plaintiff, tuition jumped from $5,000 to $12,673 per year while she attended UCSF School of Medicine.

CMA filed an amicus brief on behalf of the students.

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