A force majeure contract absolves them of delivering their service. It doesn't mean they get to change their service however they see fit and keep all the money.

People up front for an in person semester. If they really want to go the force majeure route, they should return the money up front and renegotiate the rest of the semester.

Sure, they can return some money but who knows how much was already allocated, especially with distance learning continuing. I got no refund from my kid's preschool for similar reasons.

This is a really uphill legal battle

Then they can file bankruptcy and students can stand in line as creditors.

"I already spent it" isn't a legal defense for taking money and not delivering services.

Except it really is when it comes to Force Majeur.

Really? If you have a source, I’m interested.

I figured the event itself was the consequential part, not whether the money was spent.

Also not sure the OP Meant it literally. University expenses are mostly fixed.