US campuses increasingly hostile for Muslim students, CAIR report says
The findings from CAIR’s Unhostile Campus Campaign ranked Columbia University and the City University of New York (CUNY) as the least welcoming campuses, each scoring 2%. The University of Michigan, the University of Chicago and Case Western Reserve University were also cited among institutions with the most adverse conditions.
None of the 51 universities evaluated received an “Unhostile” rating. The University of Alabama recorded the highest score at 87% but was still placed “Under Watch.” The overall average score was 37.92%, with nearly three-quarters of campuses scoring below 50%. More than half did not explicitly define Islamophobia or anti-Muslim bias in their anti-discrimination policies.
The report said 12 universities adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which critics argue can restrict criticism of Israel. About half of the institutions faced Title VI complaints, while more than 75% reportedly called police during Gaza-related protests after October 2023. CAIR added that 90% introduced major policy changes without consulting students or faculty.
“University administrators failed to uphold their stated commitments to free speech and academic freedom at many of the campuses we examined,” said Maryam Hasan, a CAIR research and advocacy specialist.
CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor said the report aims to inform prospective students and staff about campus climates, alleging that some institutions acted to suppress Muslim voices and those opposing civilian harm in Gaza.
For the report please visit: https://islamophobia.org/special-reports/designated-cairs-2025-hostile-campus-ratings-report/
