Monroe University
Data Breach Class Action Lawsuit

Posted: January 14, 2026 -- Monroe University data breach class action lawsuit investigation.

Abington Cole + Ellery is investigating the data breach recently announced by Monroe University and may be filing a class action lawsuit on behalf of victims.

Monroe University Data Breach Summary:

In mid-January, 2026, Monroe University disclosed a security incident involving unauthorized access to sensitive data, which took place or around between December 9, 2024, and December 23, 2024. Approximately 320,000 individuals were affected by the Monroe University data breach, and breached data may include, but is not necessarily limited to: name, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license number, passport number, government identification number, medical information, health insurance information, electronic account or email username and password, financial account information, and/or student data. As a result of the data breach, Monroe University is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring and/or identity theft protection services to affected individuals.

FREE CONSULTATION: If you are a victim of the Monroe University data breach, and interested in potentially volunteering to serve as a class representative in a class action lawsuit against Monroe University, please submit your information here to be considered:

An attorney-client relationship is not formed by submitting information through this website.

Monroe University Data Breach Details:

Monroe University publicly disclosed in January 2026 that an unauthorized party accessed certain university computer systems for roughly two weeks, from December 9, 2024, through December 23, 2024, and copied some files from the network during that window. In data breach regulatory filings, the university indicated the incident ultimately affected more than 320,000 people.

Based on the university’s notice, the incident involved unauthorized access plus data acquisition (i.e., files were taken rather than merely viewed). The public materials do not describe the specific entry method (for example, whether it began with phishing, a stolen credential, or another technique); what Monroe has said is that the intruder had access during the December 2024 timeframe and obtained copies of certain files. Monroe then reviewed the files and reported that on September 30, 2025, it determined the collected files contained personal information for certain individuals.

The university said the kinds of data involved varied by person, but could include identifiers and records such as names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license or passport numbers, other government ID numbers, medical and health insurance information, account credentials (username/password), financial account information, and student data. Monroe reported it began mailing written notices on January 2, 2026, stated it had no evidence at the time that the information had been used for identity theft or fraud, and provided a contact line for questions. Affected individuals were offered one year of credit monitoring through Cyberscout.

Additional information about the Monroe University data breach may be found here: Monroe University Notice of Data Security Incident. The Monroe University Website may also have additional information about or provide periodic updates regarding the data breach.

About Monroe University:

Monroe University is a private university based in New York, with campuses in the Bronx and New Rochelle as well as a campus in Saint Lucia, and it also offers online programs. It traces its roots to 1933, when Mildred King opened what began as a small secretarial school in the Bronx. Today, the institution offers undergraduate and graduate credentials (including associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees) across several career-focused fields, with graduate study housed in its King Graduate School and specialized programs such as culinary education offered through the Culinary Institute of New York. Monroe University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, with initial accreditation dating to 1990 and reaffirmation noted for 2020.

Additional Information:

Monroe University says 2024 data breach affects 320,000 people

For more information about steps you can take to possibly reduce the chances harm arising from a data breach, please review the following article: What are some steps you can take if you've been the victim of a data breach?

If you believe you are a victim of the Monroe University data breach, and if you would like to volunteer to serve as a class representative in a class action lawsuit regarding this data breach, please submit your information via the form on this webpage. This website is not associated with nor authorized by Monroe University or any affiliated companies. If you have received any other data breach notifications, you may to review Abington Cole + Ellery's current list of data breach investigations.