1 in 3 College Students Report Witnessing More Discrimination Against Marginalized Groups This Year
Credit: The State / Contributor / Tribune News Service / Getty ImagesData Summary
Around half of students (48%) say they would consider transferring if their college were to abolish DEI initiatives.- 52% of students say their decision to enroll would have been impacted if a college they were considering had abolished DEI initiatives.
- Black students (44%) are more likely than Latino/a (34%) and white students (30%) to report having seen or experienced more discrimination toward marginalized groups on campus in the last year.
- Black students (57%) are also more likely than Latino/a students (47%) and white (45%) to say they would consider transferring if their college were to abolish DEI initiatives.
Amid a rise in anti-diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) legislation, students may face more challenges with fewer avenues of support.
In a recent BestColleges survey of 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1 in 3 report witnessing or experiencing more discrimination against marginalized groups this year.
Simultaneously, about 1 in 10 college students (12%) report DEI office closures at their schools.
DEI offices, which increasingly face closures and cuts in federal funding, have the primary responsibility of protecting the interests of students from underrepresented groups.
Just under half of students (48%) say they would consider transferring if their college were to abolish DEI initiatives.
Another 52% of students say if a college they were considering had abolished DEI initiatives, it would have impacted their decision to enroll.
In a BestColleges survey conducted last fall, 55% of students said they would consider transferring if their college were to abolish DEI initiatives. Nearly 3 in 5 (59%) said that if a college they were considering were to ban DEI initiatives, it would impact their decision to enroll.
In the most recent survey, reports of increased discrimination varied by respondents’ race/ethnicity.
Black students (44%) are more likely than Latino/a (34%) and white students (30%) to have seen or experienced more discrimination toward marginalized groups on campus in the last year.
Students of color also take their school’s diversity stances seriously: 57% of Black students, 47% of Latino/a students, and 45% of white students say they would consider transferring if their college were to abolish DEI initiatives.
Campus Safety Resources
Campus safety is a concern for many students. The most commonly reported crimes on college campuses include burglaries, rapes, and motor vehicle thefts.
In 2022, college campuses saw a record-setting number of hate crimes with more than 2,000 incidents, according to the Department of Education.
To report a case, students can contact campus security, the police, or campus administration. Universities typically have apps or phone numbers specific to their institution. Find additional resources in BestColleges’ Campus Safety Guide.
Methodology
This survey was conducted from September 16-23, 2024, and was fielded by Pure Spectrum. Survey participants included 1,000 respondents nationwide who were currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program. Respondents were 18-39 years of age, with the majority (77%) ages 18-24, and currently pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, or professional degree. The respondents for the survey were screened by various quality checks, including systems like Relevant ID, and responses were manually reviewed to ensure consistency and accuracy.