^{The committee initially expressed a willingness to subpoena Brown on April 30.}

House Judiciary Committee Targets Ivy League Over Potential Antitrust Violations

The House Judiciary Committee has issued subpoenas to Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania, escalating its probe into whether Ivy League institutions have engaged in anticompetitive practices related to tuition pricing and financial aid. This move follows a similar subpoena issued to Harvard University last week, signaling a broader crackdown on elite higher education.

The subpoenas, signed by Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Subcommittee Chair Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.), demand extensive documentation from Brown and Penn by July 22. Harvard has a slightly earlier deadline of July 17.

Allegations: Price-Fixing and Financial Aid Manipulation

The core of the committee’s investigation centers on allegations that Ivy League schools may have coordinated tuition hikes, effectively engaging in price-fixing across their institutions. Lawmakers are also probing whether these universities leveraged sensitive financial information from applicants to optimize tuition aid offers—a practice the committee equates to price discrimination.

The subpoenas seek all communications and internal records going back six years, focusing on 11 specific topics, including tuition-setting practices, financial aid algorithms, and coordination between schools.

Brown and Penn Respond to Subpoenas

Both Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania assert that they have been cooperative throughout the investigation.

“The House Committee’s July 1 subpoena was unnecessary given our voluntary compliance,” a Brown University spokesperson told CNBC. “We fully recognize the committee’s oversight authority and will continue to provide the committee with information it has requested.”

Penn echoed a similar stance, stating that it has already provided over 8,000 pages of documentation and has been “prompt and consistent” in its responses.

Despite these assurances, the committee labeled the universities’ earlier responses as “inadequate”, prompting the issuance of formal subpoenas.

Wider Probe Across the Ivy League

In addition to Brown, Penn, and Harvard, the Judiciary Committee in April sent document requests to all eight Ivy League schools: Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, and Yale were also included. However, it remains unclear whether those five schools will also be subpoenaed.

The investigation is part of a broader Republican push to examine practices within elite academic institutions, especially those perceived to limit market competition or manipulate consumer pricing.

What’s at Stake: Potential Reforms in Antitrust Law

According to the committee, these subpoenas are not just about accountability—they may shape future legislative reforms. Lawmakers are considering whether existing antitrust laws and penalties are sufficient to deter collusive behavior among universities.

The committee emphasized that findings from this investigation will inform whether Congress should pursue stronger civil or criminal penalties for violations and potentially reshape the way higher education institutions handle pricing and aid transparency.

Final Thoughts

The unfolding antitrust probe has the potential to significantly impact how Ivy League and other top-tier universities operate. As lawmakers scrutinize whether these institutions are collaborating in ways that inflate tuition and manipulate financial aid, the outcome could lead to new legal standards and greater regulatory oversight in the higher education sector.

The clock is ticking for Brown and Penn, who must comply with congressional demands by July 22—and depending on what the documents reveal, more subpoenas may be on the way.