A United Educators analysis shows U.S. colleges paid hundreds of millions in settlements during 2025 across a range of litigation, from sexual‑abuse and campus shootings to antitrust and pandemic-era tuition disputes. The largest reported payout involved Columbia and an affiliated hospital at $750 million tied to longstanding abuse claims; Michigan State, Penn State and others also recorded multimillion‑dollar settlements. Insurers and institutional risk officers warn that legal liabilities—from Title IX and civil‑rights claims to cybersecurity breaches—are creating a new recurring budget pressure for universities. Higher legal payouts are straining operating budgets and forcing boards to reassess insurance, compliance and risk‑management protocols.