Most Large U.S. Colleges Record Multiple Sexual Assaults Annually, Data Likely Misses Many Victims

Data submitted under the Jeane Clery Act indicate that more than four-fifths of large U.S. colleges logged at least two rapes or non-consensual touching incidents each year from 2019 to 2024, with Cornell University reporting an average of eight incidents per 5,000 students annually. Experts warn that these statistics miss a large portion of victimization because many survivors do not come forward and some institutions may omit unfounded or unpursued reports.

National surveys suggest about 20% of undergraduates have faced sexual violence, a rate far higher than official figures. Factors such as insufficient confidential advocates, poor knowledge of Title IX offices, and doubts about the seriousness of reports deter students from filing complaints. The limited number of investigations and sanctions—illustrated by the Cornell case where only two students were expelled out of 171 misconduct investigations—highlights systemic under-addressing of the problem. Researchers call for better reporting mechanisms and more accessible support services on campuses.