Nearly Half of Non-Jewish Students Witness Campus Antisemitism in 2026
48.3% of non-Jewish undergraduates reported witnessing anti-Jewish behavior on campus in past year, ADL survey finds.
Nearly half of non-jewish college students in the United States witnessed or experienced antisemitic behavior on campus during the past academic year, according to a new national survey released by the Anti-Defamation League.
The survey found that 48.3 percent of non-Jewish students reported witnessing or experiencing anti-Jewish behavior on campus or in campus-related digital spaces in the past year, while 47.6 percent endorsed at least one anti-Jewish attitude.
Survey Methodology and Scope
The study surveyed 1,007 U.S. non-Jewish undergraduates and was conducted January-February 2026. Students came from both private (26.3%) and public (73.7%) institutions, with schools spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The ADL released the survey as part of its companion report, "Campus Crossroads: Non-Jewish Student Perceptions of Jews and israel," alongside its 2026 Campus Antisemitism Report Card in March.
Policy Improvements vs. Student Experience
A slight majority (52.1%) perceive such prejudice as at least "a little" prevalent at their institutions. Yet only 5.3% reported receiving antisemitism-specific training, the survey found.
The findings reveal a disconnect between institutional policy changes and daily campus realities. While the survey data did not factor into grades for the Report Card, the findings make clear that policy changes have not yet fully reached students' day-to-day experiences, underscoring the need for continued vigilance, the ADL stated.
Shira Goodman, ADL Vice President of Advocacy, said policy improvements have not translated into changed experiences. "Even as institutional grades improve, the persistence of anti-Jewish attitudes and the limited reach of antisemitism education identified in the survey show that universities cannot take their foot off the gas. Policy progress must translate into lived experience for Jewish students, staff and faculty", Goodman said.
Congressional Response
The survey results come as federal lawmakers intensify scrutiny of campus antisemitism. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) announced that they are launching the Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses Caucus during a visit to Vanderbilt University on September 8, 2026.
The caucus aims to hold colleges and universities accountable for protecting Jewish students, faculty, and staff, according to the lawmakers.
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released a unanimously approved, bipartisan report stating that campus antisemitism is a serious civil rights concern and calling attention to inconsistent university responses, limited federal transparency, and reduced enforcement capacity on September 28, 2026.
Student Support for Action
Despite the prevalence of antisemitic behavior, the ADL survey found strong student support for institutional intervention. 85% support university action to address anti-Jewish behavior, according to the Campus Crossroads report.
The findings show that anti-Jewish bias is widely visible on campus, but also that most students support institutional action and inclusion – creating both risks and opportunities for universities, the ADL stated.
The survey results provide empirical evidence that antisemitic incidents remain pervasive on American campuses nearly three years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, which triggered a spike in reported campus antisemitism nationwide.
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Solly Marks is a Jewish news publisher covering Israel and the global Jewish community. JewishNewsNow delivers factual, pro-Israel journalism — breaking news, community updates, and analysis for the worldwide Jewish diaspora.