Early-Decision Admissions Face Antitrust Test as Colleges Lose Bid to End Suit

Theory Briefing

• A federal judge ruled plaintiffs alleged enough to keep their central conspiracy claim alive against colleges using early-decision admissions.
• Early-decision programs lock students into a school before comparing financial aid offers, which plaintiffs argue suppresses competition on tuition price.
• The antitrust framing treats colleges not as educators but as competing sellers whose coordinated rules may harm student-consumers.
• If the suit succeeds, it could force colleges to let admitted students shop rival aid packages — reshaping how admissions works.