A new antitrust class action lawsuit against a group of selective colleges and universities is challenging their early-decision admissions policies.

The complaint, filed by three students and a recent graduate, claims these policies prevent students from comparing financial aid packages by requiring them to attend the college where they applied early, if admitted. The lawsuit further alleges that, even though these policies aren’t legally binding, colleges and universities have an agreement not to admit or recruit students accepted early decision at other institutions. As a result, students feel locked into a decision before knowing their financial aid packages—and institutions can offer less aid since they don’t need to compete for these students, the lawsuit argues.

The complaint names 32 colleges and universities—including Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, and the University of Pennsylvania—as well as two college application platforms, the Common App and Scoir Inc., and the Consortium on Financing Higher Education.

“It does not seem fair that, in order to put my chances of admission on a level playing field with my peers, I had to give up the right to compare the cost of attendance at different schools,” plaintiff and Vassar College student Jude Robinson said in a news release. “I thought I would get more financial aid than I did, but I never got a chance to weigh other options.” 

The lawsuit seeks damages for students who would have paid less for college if not for these policies and aims to end binding early-decision admissions policies.