Experts say campus data undercounts sexual assaults
Summary
Federal data shows more than 45,000 reports of rape or sexual assault at U.S. colleges from 2019 to 2024, but experts say many assaults are not reported. The Clery Act requires schools to report certain crimes, but reporting practices and lack of survivor knowledge make the data incomplete.Key Facts
- Over 45,000 sexual assault reports were made to colleges between 2019 and 2024.
- More than 80% of large colleges reported at least two incidents of rape or fondling per year on average.
- Cornell University reported 238 incidents in six years, averaging 8 per 5,000 students annually, higher than the average large school.
- The Clery Act requires schools to report campus crimes to the Department of Education but does not cover all incidents.
- Many students who experience sexual violence do not report it; surveys show about 1 in 5 undergraduates experience such violence.
- Schools have flexibility in deciding who reports incidents and may exclude some reports, affecting data accuracy.
- Training and awareness about reporting resources like Title IX offices are often lacking, reducing student reporting.
- Studies show reports spike during audits but drop afterward, suggesting underreporting outside audits.
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