Dartmouth College settles class action following 2025 Oracle data breach

Dartmouth College has agreed to resolve a class-action lawsuit following a 2025 data breach that affected the personal information of more than 35,000 people.

In November 2025, Dartmouth College disclosed a data breach in which attackers exploited a zero-day flaw in its Oracle E-Business Suite servers and accessed files containing sensitive information. The breach, which occurred between August 9 and 12, exposed names, Social Security numbers, and financial account details of more than 35,000 people. Dartmouth reported the incident to regulators in Maine, California, Texas, and New Hampshire.

A class-action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas following the cyberattack. Plaintiffs alleged that Dartmouth College did not take adequate measures to protect the personal information in its possession, leading to unauthorised access during the 2025 Oracle E-Business Suite breach. The consolidated case asserted violations of federal and state laws and sought compensation for the potential harm and risks resulting from the data exposure.

While the college denied any wrongdoing or negligence, both sides agreed to settle the case to avoid the costs and risks of continued litigation and allow Class members to receive benefits under the settlement.

Under the proposed settlement, eligible class members may receive two years of credit monitoring, including monitoring through one credit reporting agency and dark web surveillance. The service also includes up to $1 million in identity theft insurance and unauthorised electronic fund transfer reimbursement, along with real-time monitoring and assistance with fraud victims and security freezes.

Eligible class members may also claim reimbursement of up to $5,000 for documented out-of-pocket expenses reasonably related to the data Incident. Claims must include supporting documentation, and expenses reimbursed by another source are not eligible. If valid claims exceed the available settlement funds, payments may be adjusted on a pro rata basis.

The proposed settlement has been granted preliminary approval by the court but has not yet become final. A final approval hearing is scheduled for November 5, when the court will decide whether to approve the settlement.