After lurking for years I have no idea why your post compelled me to finally register and post, but they probably couldn't get certified for a class action. There isn't a practical problem in joining the three schools as plaintiffs. That said, if alumni from the schools brought the action they probably could certify as a class, but would have a weaker case. I do agree with you that there is probably some type of anti-trust violation that could be claimed in all of this, but I have no idea what it would be. When all else fails (which it has) it's time to unleash the lawyers.