A team of researchers from the University of Southern California recently released a new report, “DEI Under Fire: Policy, Politics, and the Future of Campus Diversity,” which identified the top six U.S. states that have introduced and/or enacted legislation regarding restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in higher education. According to the study, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas had the highest anti-DEI in academia legislative activity of all U.S. states between August 2024 and July 2025.
In these states, various bills were introduced regarding the prohibition or defunding of diversity offices or positions at educational institutions; the ban of required DEI-related trainings for students, faculty, and staff; restrictions on the use of DEI statements in hiring, admissions, or promotions; elimination of preferences based on race, gender, or other identity markers in institutional policies; and bans on mandatory DEI or critical race theory courses. All six states with the exception of Missouri passed legislation regarding these topics. Missouri did not pass any such legislation but introduced the most bills (14) of any state during this time.
As a result of these anti-DEI bills, many colleges and universities in these six states have rebranded their DEI offices and race-conscious equity initiatives under new names, such as “student success” or “institutional engagement.” Other institutions — including Ivy Tech Community College in Iowa, Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, Iowa State University, the University of Oklahoma, East Tennessee State University, the Texas A&M University System, the University of Houston System, and the University of North Texas — closed some DEI offices and programs altogether.
Even some private universities that are technically unaffected by state policies have implemented similar changes. Vanderbilt University, a highly-rated private institution in Nashville, renamed DEI offices, eliminated its DEI website, and discontinued diversity programs within its medical center.
These DEI rollbacks have broad implications for students, faculty, and staff in higher education, particularly those from marginalized groups. According to the report, closing identity-based centers and mentorship programs will reduce access to crucial support systems for students, while discontinuing race-conscious financial aid programs will make higher education less accessible for underrepresented students. Many faculty and staff employed in DEI-specific roles have been laid off or been reassigned to other positions.
“Banning DEI policies in higher education directly contradicts their fundamental purpose: to eliminate barriers to equal opportunity and create more equitable academic institutions,” the authors write. “Without these programs, systemic disparities are likely to persist and widen, thereby reinforcing inequities in education, employment, and social mobility.”
They continue, “Ultimately, the future of DEI in higher education will be shaped by institutional responses and collective advocacy efforts aimed at ensuring accountability. As policies evolve, universities must find alternate ways to uphold their commitments to equity and student success, ensuring that historically marginalized communities are supported amid these growing restrictive environments.”
