Jewish student life on American college campuses is at a critical juncture, influenced by factors such as antisemitic incidents, university responses, and anti-Israel activism, according to a new report from Alums for Campus Fairness (ACF).
The 2025-26 Campus Climate Brief names 10 institutions as most concerning and 10 as most supportive for Jewish students, evaluating campuses based on incident records, institutional response to antisemitism, anti-Israel organizing, Jewish life, and the legal and structural environment.
ACF Executive Director Avi Gordon stated that institutions that "get it right" understand their obligation to support all students, including Jewish and pro-Israel individuals, creating welcoming environments. Conversely, the report highlights campuses where tensions may lead to a hostile climate for Jewish students.
Most Concerning Campuses
The report identifies Middlebury College, The New School, DePaul University, Smith College, Sarah Lawrence College, San Francisco State University (SFSU), University of Texas at Dallas, University of California, Berkeley, Oberlin College, and George Mason University as the most concerning campuses. "Honorable mentions" in this category include the City University of New York System, University of Washington, Occidental College, and Pitzer College.
At Middlebury College, the report noted its Hillel chapter renamed itself, reflecting what ACF described as a penetration of anti-Zionist sentiment into campus Jewish institutional life. The New School's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter advertised a "Vigil for Martyr Yahya Sinwar," referencing the deceased Hamas leader, and continued promotion after Meta removed the original post.
UC Berkeley was cited for "wanted" posters targeting Jewish UC regents and "Kill all Zionists" spray-painted in graduate housing. The university also faced a lawsuit from the Department of Justice in February 2026 over an alleged antisemitic hostile work environment.
SFSU was characterized by ACF as having a broader anti-Zionist culture, citing the hosting of Mahmoud Khalil by its Race and Resistance Studies department. However, SFSU disputed this, with Communications Director Bobby King stating the university prioritizes combating antisemitism and has partnered with Hillel organizations to implement anti-antisemitism programs.
Most Supportive Campuses
Tulane University, the University of Florida, Vanderbilt University, the University of Miami, Brandeis University, Indiana University, Arizona State University, Binghamton University, Dartmouth College, and the University of Southern California (USC) were named among the strongest campuses for Jewish students. "Honorable mentions" included Washington University in St. Louis, Emory University, the University of Georgia, the University of Central Florida, Boston University, the University of Arizona, and Yeshiva University.
USC stated its designation reflects concrete steps taken to support its Jewish community and its commitment to welcoming all students. Binghamton University was recognized for its strong relationship with Jewish institutions, including weekly meetings between administrators and representatives from Hillel and Chabad. The report noted that a boycott, divestment, and sanctions resolution at Binghamton, initially passed in April 2024, was rescinded months later, and the Student Assembly Congress later condemned divestment from Israel.
Vanderbilt University was highlighted for having no recorded antisemitic incidents in the 2025-26 academic year and for its swift action in February 2026 regarding a mathematics lecturer whose course materials reportedly contained anti-Israel content.
Gordon emphasized that the report does not advocate for censorship but aims to address intimidation, vandalism, and bigotry experienced by Jewish students. He described the current campus climate as a "crossing point" where Jewish students are increasingly aware of risks when choosing universities. ACF aims to help administrations understand campus realities through the input of alumni.