Signed by several Republican leaders, including Rep. Jim Jordan and Sen. Charles Grassley, the inquiry aims to uncover potential violations of U.S. antitrust laws related to these practices.

Historically, the Department of Justice investigated Ivy League schools in 1991 for using a standardized pricing formula, which led to an agreement to stop sharing financial aid information and collaborating on tuition increases.

This antitrust exemption, which allowed universities to collaborate on pricing without considering financial need, expired in 2022, intensifying scrutiny on their practices.

Penn is currently facing a lawsuit that alleges it is part of a 'price-fixing cartel' that discriminates against lower-income applicants while falsely advertising as need-blind.

The scrutiny on Penn has been compounded by significant criticism following pro-Palestinian protests, leading to the resignation of its former president, Liz Magill.

The investigation is further linked to the recent suspension of federal grants, including $4 million in funding for climate research at Princeton, which affects all Ivy League schools.

The congressional letter expresses worries that Ivy League schools may have continued colluding in violation of antitrust laws, especially following the expiration of their antitrust exemption.

Princeton's spokesperson confirmed receipt of the inquiry and stated that the university intends to cooperate with the investigation.

This congressional inquiry underscores ongoing issues of affordability in elite higher education, particularly as the Ivy League faces increased pressure to demonstrate transparency in its financial aid and tuition-setting practices.

The investigation has raised concerns over anticompetitive practices, particularly the collective tuition increases and selective financial aid packages employed by Ivy League institutions.

On April 10, 2025, Congressional Republicans launched an investigation into the University of Pennsylvania and other Ivy League schools, alleging collusion in raising tuition prices and discriminatory financial aid practices.

The documents requested by Congress could reveal the extent of coordination among Ivy League institutions in their tuition pricing strategies.