Antisemitism on US Campuses 2026: What the ADL Data Shows

Quick Answer

Campus antisemitism in the United States has remained significantly elevated in 2025-2026 compared to pre-October 2023 baseline levels, according to Anti-Defamation League tracking data. Jewish student groups report continued incidents of harassment, exclusion, and physical confrontations at major US universities.

The Scale of the Problem

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has documented a sustained increase in antisemitic incidents on US college campuses since October 2023. The 2024 ADL Campus Antisemitism Report found that 73% of Jewish college students reported experiencing or witnessing antisemitism on campus in the prior academic year — up from 27% in 2021. By the 2025-2026 academic year, Jewish campus organisations including Hillel International and StandWithUs reported that incidents remained at heightened levels despite some universities taking disciplinary action following the protest encampments of spring 2024.

What Universities Have Done

Following Congressional testimony from university presidents in December 2023 — which resulted in high-profile resignations at Harvard and Penn — several major universities updated their campus conduct policies on antisemitism. Harvard, MIT, Columbia, and others adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism in their conduct policies during 2024. Enforcement of these policies has been inconsistent according to Jewish student groups, with some universities taking faster disciplinary action than others.

The US Department of Education under the Trump administration opened Title VI investigations into a number of universities in 2025 over alleged failure to protect Jewish students, citing the Civil Rights Act which prohibits discrimination based on shared ancestry.

Jewish Student Experience

Hillel International, which operates Jewish life centres on over 850 campuses, reported in its 2025-2026 survey that Jewish students increasingly sought out campus communities with strong Hillel presences as a factor in university selection. Many Jewish students reported self-censoring their Jewish identity or Israel connection on campus to avoid confrontation.

What Diaspora Parents Need to Know

Jewish families with college-age children should research each university's track record on antisemitism incidents and their response policies before making enrollment decisions. Resources including the AMCHA Initiative (amchainitiative.org) track antisemitic incidents by campus. Schools with strong and active Hillel chapters and clear antisemitism enforcement policies have generally provided safer environments for Jewish students.

FAQ

Q: Which universities have the worst track records on campus antisemitism?
A: The AMCHA Initiative and ADL publish campus-specific incident data. Consulting these databases before choosing a university is recommended for Jewish families. MIT, Columbia, Berkeley, and several others have appeared frequently in incident reports.

Q: Is making aliyah an option for Jewish students feeling unsafe on campus?
A: Some Jewish students have chosen to study at Israeli universities through programs like Nefesh B'Nefesh's student aliyah track. Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, and Technion all offer English-language degree programs and study abroad options.

Q: What can the Jewish community do?
A: Organisations including the AJC, WJC, AIPAC, and ADL are actively lobbying Congress on campus antisemitism legislation. Federal Title VI enforcement and university accreditation pressure are the main legal levers available to the community.

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