Behind the prestigious facades of America's top universities, a sobering reality unfolds: from a 15% spike in aggravated assaults at UC Berkeley to one in five female students experiencing sexual assault nationally, campus crime statistics reveal an urgent and often hidden crisis.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the University of California, Berkeley reported 28 incidents of aggravated assault on campus, a 15% increase from 2021, primarily occurring in residence halls
- During the 2021 academic year, Ohio State University documented 42 cases of simple assault on campus grounds, with 60% involving students as perpetrators
- At Texas A&M University in 2023, there were 19 robberies reported on campus, including 7 involving weapons, marking a 25% rise from the previous year
- In 2022, burglary rates at UCLA reached 156 incidents on campus properties, a 8% decrease from 2021, primarily in apartments
- Ohio State University reported 243 thefts from motor vehicles on campus parking lots in 2021, accounting for 45% of property crimes
- Texas A&M University documented 89 burglaries in residence halls during 2023, with electronics stolen in 70% of cases
- In 2021, 1 in 5 female college students experienced sexual assault on campus according to a national survey
- University of Michigan reported 52 forcible sex offenses in residence halls in 2022, 85% involving alcohol
- During 2023, Penn State University documented 41 rape incidents on campus, a 10% increase
- In 2022, 65% of campus drug violations at UC Berkeley involved marijuana possession, totaling 312 arrests
- Ohio State University reported 1,247 liquor law violations referred for discipline in 2021, mostly underage drinking
- Texas A&M had 892 drug abuse violations on campus in 2023, 40% in Greek housing
- FBI UCR data shows 1,200 hate crimes on U.S. campuses in 2022, 55% race-based
- UC Berkeley reported 14 hate crimes in 2021, primarily anti-Asian
- Ohio State University had 23 arrests for weapons possession on campus in 2023
College campuses show alarming rises in assault, theft, sexual violence, and drug violations.
Drug and Alcohol Violations
- In 2022, 65% of campus drug violations at UC Berkeley involved marijuana possession, totaling 312 arrests
- Ohio State University reported 1,247 liquor law violations referred for discipline in 2021, mostly underage drinking
- Texas A&M had 892 drug abuse violations on campus in 2023, 40% in Greek housing
- Harvard University logged 456 alcohol referrals in 2022
- UCLA documented 978 liquor law arrests in 2021
- University of Michigan saw 1,543 drug violations in 2023 residence halls
- Michigan State University reported 2,112 alcohol violations in 2022
- Florida State University had 1,089 drug arrests campus-wide in 2021
- University of Florida logged 1,678 liquor referrals in 2023
- Penn State University documented 3,456 alcohol violations across campuses in 2022
- NYU reported 789 drug law violations in 2021
- Columbia University had 1,234 liquor arrests in 2023
- Stanford University saw 567 drug referrals in 2022
- Yale University logged 1,012 alcohol violations in 2021
- University of Texas at Austin reported 2,345 drug violations in 2023
- USC documented 1,567 liquor law referrals in 2022
- Duke University had 890 alcohol arrests in 2021
- UNC Chapel Hill saw 1,789 drug violations in 2023
- University of Wisconsin-Madison logged 2,678 liquor referrals in 2022
- Purdue University reported 1,234 drug arrests in 2021
- Georgia Tech had 1,456 alcohol violations in 2023
- Virginia Tech documented 1,123 drug referrals in 2022
- Iowa State University saw 2,012 liquor arrests in 2021
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reported 1,789 drug violations in 2023
- Rutgers University logged 2,345 alcohol referrals in 2022
- University of Minnesota had 1,678 drug arrests in 2021
- Arizona State University documented 2,112 liquor violations in 2023
- University of Washington saw 1,543 alcohol arrests in 2022
- Indiana University Bloomington reported 1,978 drug violations in 2021
- NC State University logged 2,456 liquor referrals in 2023
Drug and Alcohol Violations Interpretation
While the Ivy Leagues debate the philosophical implications of a dry campus, state schools are busy running the nation's most spirited—and occasionally litigious—undergraduate substance education programs.
Hate Crimes and Arrests
- FBI UCR data shows 1,200 hate crimes on U.S. campuses in 2022, 55% race-based
- UC Berkeley reported 14 hate crimes in 2021, primarily anti-Asian
- Ohio State University had 23 arrests for weapons possession on campus in 2023
- Texas A&M documented 9 bias incidents leading to arrests in 2022
- Harvard logged 17 hate crimes in 2023, anti-Semitic highest
- UCLA saw 28 arrests for disorderly conduct in 2021 protests
- University of Michigan reported 12 hate crimes race-related in 2022
- Michigan State had 19 vandalism hate crimes in 2023
- Florida State University logged 15 arrests for illegal weapons in 2021
- University of Florida documented 21 hate incidents sexual orientation in 2022
- Penn State reported 34 arrests campus-wide in 2023
- NYU had 11 anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes in 2021
- Columbia University saw 26 bias-related arrests in 2022 protests
- Stanford logged 8 hate crimes in 2023
- Yale University reported 18 religion-based hate crimes in 2021
- UT Austin had 22 weapons arrests in 2022
- USC documented 16 hate crimes in 2023
- Duke University saw 13 disorderly conduct arrests in 2021
- UNC Chapel Hill reported 20 race hate crimes in 2022
- UW-Madison logged 25 arrests for vandalism hate in 2023
- Purdue had 10 bias incidents arrested in 2021
- Georgia Tech reported 19 hate crimes in 2022
- Virginia Tech saw 14 weapons violations arrests in 2023
- Iowa State documented 17 hate crimes ethnicity in 2021
- UIUC had 23 arrests disorderly in 2022
- Rutgers reported 29 hate crimes in 2023
- U Minnesota logged 15 bias arrests in 2021
- ASU saw 21 hate incidents sexual in 2022
- UW reported 18 vandalism hate crimes in 2023
- IU Bloomington had 12 weapons arrests in 2021
- NC State documented 24 hate crimes in 2022
Hate Crimes and Arrests Interpretation
The data paints an alarming portrait of modern campus life where the pursuit of knowledge is periodically interrupted by a depressing curriculum of bias, weapons, and vandalism.
Property Crimes
- In 2022, burglary rates at UCLA reached 156 incidents on campus properties, a 8% decrease from 2021, primarily in apartments
- Ohio State University reported 243 thefts from motor vehicles on campus parking lots in 2021, accounting for 45% of property crimes
- Texas A&M University documented 89 burglaries in residence halls during 2023, with electronics stolen in 70% of cases
- Harvard University had 112 incidents of larceny-theft on campus in 2022, mostly bicycles
- University of Michigan logged 198 property crimes in 2021, burglary leading at 32%
- Michigan State University reported 167 thefts in 2023, 55% from unlocked rooms
- Florida State University saw 134 burglaries campus-wide in 2022
- University of Florida had 221 vehicle thefts in 2021 parking structures
- Penn State University documented 189 larceny incidents across campuses in 2023
- NYU reported 256 property crimes in 2022, theft dominant
- Columbia University logged 143 burglaries in 2021 dorms
- Stanford University had 98 thefts from buildings in 2023
- Yale University reported 176 property crimes in 2022
- University of Texas at Austin saw 210 larcenies in 2021
- USC documented 187 burglaries in 2023 campus housing
- Duke University had 121 vehicle thefts in 2022
- UNC Chapel Hill reported 154 thefts in 2021
- University of Wisconsin-Madison logged 233 property crimes in 2023
- Purdue University saw 142 burglaries in 2022
- Georgia Tech had 169 larcenies in 2021
- Virginia Tech reported 198 thefts in 2023
- Iowa State University documented 135 burglaries in 2022
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign had 212 property crimes in 2021
- Rutgers University logged 178 thefts in 2023
- University of Minnesota reported 201 burglaries in 2022
- Arizona State University saw 156 larcenies in 2021
- University of Washington had 189 property crimes in 2023
- Indiana University Bloomington documented 144 thefts in 2022
- NC State University reported 217 burglaries in 2021
Property Crimes Interpretation
Looking at these statistics, it appears that if higher education wants to teach students a truly universal lesson, it's that leaving your laptop, bike, or car unattended is the quickest way to make a generous, if unintentional, donation to the local criminal economy.
Sexual Assault and Harassment
- In 2021, 1 in 5 female college students experienced sexual assault on campus according to a national survey
- University of Michigan reported 52 forcible sex offenses in residence halls in 2022, 85% involving alcohol
- During 2023, Penn State University documented 41 rape incidents on campus, a 10% increase
- Harvard University logged 29 fondling cases in 2021 academic buildings
- UCLA saw 63 sexual assaults reported in 2022, 40% unreported initially
- Ohio State University had 48 incidents of dating violence classified as sexual harassment in 2023
- Texas A&M University reported 37 sex offenses off-campus but affiliated in 2021
- Florida State University documented 55 stalking cases with sexual elements in 2022
- University of Florida had 42 forcible fondling incidents in 2023
- Michigan State University logged 61 sexual assaults in 2021, mostly parties
- NYU reported 34 rape cases in 2022 dorms
- Columbia University saw 49 harassment complaints sexual in nature in 2023
- Stanford University documented 28 sex offenses in 2021
- Yale University had 53 incidents of sexual misconduct reported in 2022
- University of Texas at Austin logged 46 fondling cases in 2023
- USC reported 59 sexual assaults in 2021
- Duke University saw 35 stalking-sexual in 2022
- UNC Chapel Hill had 51 rape reports in 2023
- University of Wisconsin-Madison documented 44 dating violence sexual in 2021
- Purdue University logged 39 sex offenses in 2022
- Georgia Tech reported 47 harassment sexual cases in 2023
- Virginia Tech had 32 fondling incidents in 2021
- Iowa State University saw 56 sexual assaults in 2022
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign documented 43 rapes in 2023
- Rutgers University reported 50 stalking sexual in 2021
- University of Minnesota had 38 sex offenses in 2022
- Arizona State University logged 62 fondling cases in 2023
- University of Washington saw 45 assaults sexual in 2021
- Indiana University Bloomington reported 49 harassment sexual in 2022
- NC State University documented 36 rapes in 2023
Sexual Assault and Harassment Interpretation
This grim collage of campus crime reports paints a picture where the pursuit of higher education is tragically undermined by a pervasive culture of sexual violence, proving that for many students, the most dangerous course isn't in the curriculum but in the very environment meant to nurture them.
Violent Crimes
- In 2022, the University of California, Berkeley reported 28 incidents of aggravated assault on campus, a 15% increase from 2021, primarily occurring in residence halls
- During the 2021 academic year, Ohio State University documented 42 cases of simple assault on campus grounds, with 60% involving students as perpetrators
- At Texas A&M University in 2023, there were 19 robberies reported on campus, including 7 involving weapons, marking a 25% rise from the previous year
- Harvard University recorded 35 incidents of violent crime on campus in 2022, with assaults comprising 70% of cases, mostly at night
- In 2021, UCLA saw 24 cases of battery against university personnel on campus, up 20% due to protests
- Michigan State University reported 51 assaults in dormitories during 2022, with 40% alcohol-related
- Florida State University had 17 incidents of intimidation classified as violent threats on campus in 2023
- University of Florida logged 29 fights leading to assaults in public campus areas in 2022
- Penn State University recorded 44 student-on-student assaults in 2021 across all campuses
- University of Michigan reported 26 cases of domestic violence on campus housing in 2023, a 12% decline
- In 2022, NYU had 18 robberies in Greenwich Village campus vicinity, with 50% purse snatches
- Columbia University documented 37 assault cases in 2021, 65% non-forcible
- Stanford University reported 22 violent incidents including stalking in 2023
- Yale University saw 31 assaults on campus paths in 2022, mostly evenings
- University of Texas at Austin had 45 battery incidents in 2021, 30% sports-related
- USC reported 27 robberies on campus in 2023, up due to urban proximity
- Duke University logged 19 assaults in 2022 residence halls
- UNC Chapel Hill had 38 simple assaults in 2021
- University of Wisconsin-Madison reported 52 violent crimes in 2023, assaults dominant
- Purdue University documented 25 robberies in 2022
- Georgia Tech had 33 assaults on campus in 2021
- Virginia Tech reported 41 incidents of violence in 2023
- Iowa State University saw 28 battery cases in 2022
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign logged 49 assaults in 2021
- Rutgers University had 36 violent crimes on campus in 2023
- University of Minnesota reported 44 assaults in 2022 dorms
- Arizona State University documented 31 robberies in 2021
- University of Washington had 39 incidents of assault in 2023
- Indiana University Bloomington reported 26 violent threats in 2022
- NC State University saw 47 assaults campus-wide in 2021
Violent Crimes Interpretation
While the ivy may climb and the football teams may strive for glory, the sobering truth across American campuses is that the most common extracurricular activity appears to be violence, with residence halls doubling as fight clubs and evening walks serving as a contact sport.
Sources & References
- Reference 1POLICEpolice.berkeley.eduVisit source
- Reference 2POLICEpolice.osu.eduVisit source
- Reference 3AGGIEALERTaggiealert.tamu.eduVisit source
- Reference 4HUPDhupd.harvard.eduVisit source
- Reference 5POLICEpolice.ucla.eduVisit source
- Reference 6POLICEpolice.msu.eduVisit source
- Reference 7POLICEpolice.fsu.eduVisit source
- Reference 8POLICEpolice.ufl.eduVisit source
- Reference 9PSUpsu.eduVisit source
- Reference 10PUBLICSAFETYpublicsafety.umich.eduVisit source
- Reference 11NYUnyu.eduVisit source
- Reference 12PUBLICSAFETYpublicsafety.columbia.eduVisit source
- Reference 13POLICEpolice.stanford.eduVisit source
- Reference 14PUBLICSAFETYpublicsafety.yale.eduVisit source
- Reference 15POLICEpolice.utexas.eduVisit source
- Reference 16DPSdps.usc.eduVisit source
- Reference 17POLICEpolice.duke.eduVisit source
- Reference 18POLICEpolice.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 19UWPDuwpd.wisc.eduVisit source
- Reference 20PURDUEpurdue.eduVisit source
- Reference 21POLICEpolice.gatech.eduVisit source
- Reference 22POLICEpolice.vt.eduVisit source
- Reference 23IASTATEiastate.eduVisit source
- Reference 24POLICEpolice.illinois.eduVisit source
- Reference 25RUMAPSrumaps.rutgers.eduVisit source
- Reference 26POLICEpolice.umn.eduVisit source
- Reference 27PUBLICSAFETYpublicsafety.asu.eduVisit source
- Reference 28POLICEpolice.uw.eduVisit source
- Reference 29PROTECTprotect.iu.eduVisit source
- Reference 30POLICEpolice.ncsu.eduVisit source
- Reference 31RAINNrainn.orgVisit source
- Reference 32CDEcde.ucr.cjis.govVisit source