ADL 2026 Campus Report Finds Policy Gains but Persistent Antisemitism
The Anti-Defamation League’s 2026 Campus Antisemitism Report Card, released this week, finds that formal policies against antisemitism and disruptive protests have improved at many U.S. colleges even as Jewish students report ongoing hostility on the ground. Assessing 150 institutions on 32 criteria across administrative policies, Jewish campus life, and conduct and climate, the ADL says the share of schools earning A or B grades has more than doubled since 2024, climbing from 23.5% to 58%, with 23 As, 64 Bs, 53 Cs, 6 Ds and 4 Fs this year and nearly half of schools improving from their 2025 marks. The group reports that 94% of the schools now explicitly ban both unauthorized encampments and event disruptions, 46% now spell out antisemitism in their nondiscrimination rules, and 54% have formal entities focused on combating antisemitism and supporting Jewish life. CEO Jonathan Greenblatt credits tougher campus policies, stepped-up oversight by the Trump administration and Congress, and pressure from outside organizations, pointing to Education Department civil-rights letters sent in March 2025 to 60 universities under investigation for antisemitic discrimination and harassment that warned of possible Title VI sanctions. But the report and student testimony highlight a gap between paper rules and daily reality, as Jewish students describe continued anti-Jewish incidents amid protests over Israel and Gaza, illustrating how federal pressure and institutional rule-making have not yet translated into a consistently safer climate.
📌 Key Facts
- ADL’s 2026 Campus Antisemitism Report Card covers 150 colleges and universities, graded on 32 criteria in three categories.
- The share of schools earning A or B grades rose from 23.5% in 2024 to 58% in 2026, with 23 As, 64 Bs, 53 Cs, 6 Ds and 4 Fs.
- ADL reports 94% of schools now ban both unauthorized encampments and event disruptions, 46% reference antisemitism in nondiscrimination policies, and 54% have formal bodies devoted to antisemitism issues and Jewish life.
- Greenblatt cites Trump administration and congressional oversight, including March 2025 DOE Office for Civil Rights letters to 60 universities under Title VI antisemitism investigations, as key drivers of policy change.
📊 Relevant Data
In a 2026 survey, 40% of Jewish college students in the US reported experiencing antisemitism on campus, with 34% saying they have avoided displaying their Jewish identity due to fear of antisemitism.
Four in 10 Jewish College Students Report Experiencing Antisemitism — American Jewish Committee
Hillel International tracked 1,251 antisemitic incidents on US college campuses from October 2023 to September 2025, marking a record high for that period.
Antisemitism on College Campuses: Incident Tracking — Hillel International
Jewish undergraduate enrollment at Ivy League schools like Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania decreased by 3% to 5% from 2023 to 2024, amid rising antisemitism concerns.
College-Age Jews Are Heading South — The Atlantic
New international student enrollment in US colleges decreased by 22% in 2025 compared to the previous year, influenced by immigration policy uncertainties under the Trump administration.
Higher ed enrollments are plummeting — Working Immigrants
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time