An insurance‑industry analysis finds universities and related institutions paid hundreds of millions of dollars in legal settlements during 2025, covering cases from sexual‑abuse claims to antitrust suits, pandemic‑era tuition disputes and campus shootings. Notable payouts included a major settlement tied to criminal abuse at a medical center and a set of large university settlements across several legal categories. The report underscores the rising legal and reputational costs facing campuses and the budgetary impact of litigation on institutional finances and reserves. Risk officers and trustees should re‑examine liability exposures, insurance structures, and campus safety and compliance systems as a multi‑year fiscal issue rather than a one‑off expense.