33 Colleges & Universities Cutting DEI Programs

This is our latest research on the evolving dynamics of DEI. We’ve covered the companies ending DEI, others defending DEI, and the current DEI policies for every Fortune 100.

Now, we look into the world of higher education.

In this report, we cover US colleges and universities that have reduced or eliminated their DEI programs.

Full list | Downloadable spreadsheet | Laws impacting colleges | Fortune 100 DEI Policy Database

👉 Notable Colleges & Universities Rolling Back DEI 👈

Here are the announcements of universities cutting or closing their DEI programs. As new announcements come out, we’ll update the report.

Important note: Generally, companies are choosing to end DEI programs or policies. In public higher education, the story is different. Many of these public universities have been mandated by new laws to stop their DEI programs.

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University of Alabama (System)

State: Alabama
Action: Rebranded DEI office
Date: 11/23/2024
Story: “All three University of Alabama System campuses will be closing their diversity, equity and inclusion offices and opening new offices under different names. The schools cite a law recently signed by Gov. Kay Ivey that bans DEI offices, programming and training in public colleges and other state agencies.” (source)

University of South Alabama

State: Alabama
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 8/6/2024
Story: “The University of South Alabama (USA) will eliminate its DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) offices, becoming the latest state school to retreat from the programs amid a new state law.” (source)

University of Iowa

State: Iowa
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 4/25/2024
Story: “University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University are closing their DEI offices.” (source)

University of Northern Iowa

State: Iowa
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 4/25/2024
Story: “University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University are closing their DEI offices.” (source)

University of Kentucky

State: Kentucky
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 8/27/2024
Story: University of Kentucky will no longer require diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training for students or faculty. The office will be disbanded and other offices will absorb the people and services (source)

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Northeastern University

State: Massachusetts
Action: Rebranded DEI office
Date: 1/30/2025
Story: “As recently as Jan. 24, Northeastern’s website of ‘Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ was at diversity.northeastern.edu. That link now redirects to belonging.northeastern.edu, which is a sparse website titled ‘Belonging at Northeastern,’ without any mention of the office.” (source)

University of Michigan

State: Michigan
Action: Removed certain DEI policies
Date: 12/5/2024
Story: The university will “will no longer ask for diversity statements from faculty when considering hiring, promotion or tenure.” (source)

Missouri State University

State: Missouri
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 1/29/2025
Story: “Effective immediately, Missouri State University will stop diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs on campus and close its office of inclusive engagement. This decision comes in response to changes nationwide and anticipated actions regarding DEI at the state level.” (source)

The University of Missouri

State: Missouri
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 7/31/2024
Story: “The University of Missouri at Columbia is dissolving its Division for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, leaders announced Tuesday morning, in an effort to pre-empt legislative action from conservative state lawmakers.” (source)

Appalachian State

State: North Carolina
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 9/12/2024
Story: At least seven university chancellors chose to close their DEI offices to comply with the BOG’s “institutional neutrality” policy: Appalachian State, North Carolina A&T, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, UNC Pembroke, UNC Wilmington, and Western Carolina. (source)

North Carolina A&T

State: North Carolina
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 9/12/2024
Story: At least seven university chancellors chose to close their DEI offices to comply with the BOG’s “institutional neutrality” policy: Appalachian State, North Carolina A&T, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, UNC Pembroke, UNC Wilmington, and Western Carolina. (source)

Western Carolina University

State: North Carolina
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 9/12/2024
Story: At least seven university chancellors chose to close their DEI offices to comply with the BOG’s “institutional neutrality” policy including Western Carolina (source)

North Carolina State University

State: North Carolina
Action: Rebranded DEI office
Date: 9/12/2024
Story: “Other universities — including East Carolina, Elizabeth City State, North Carolina Central, NC State, UNC Asheville, and UNC School of the Arts — chose to rename their offices or departments. Most of these titles have removed words like ‘diversity’ or ‘equity,’ and replaced them with ‘student success,’ ‘institutional engagement’ or ‘equal opportunity.’ (source)

University of North Carolina (System)

State: North Carolina
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 9/11/2024
Story: “UNC System schools have eliminated 59 diversity, equity and inclusion positions across the state. The position eliminations are a direct result of the UNC Board of Governors repealing its policy mandating diversity, equity, and inclusion offices at public universities and replacing it with one enshrining “institutional neutrality.” (source)

East Carolina

State: North Carolina
Action: Rebranded DEI office
Date: 9/12/2024
Story: “Other universities — including East Carolina, Elizabeth City State, North Carolina Central, NC State, UNC Asheville, and UNC School of the Arts — chose to rename their offices or departments. Most of these titles have removed words like ‘diversity’ or ‘equity,’ and replaced them with ‘student success,’ ‘institutional engagement’ or ‘equal opportunity.’ (source)

Elizabeth City State

State: North Carolina
Action: Rebranded DEI office
Date: 9/12/2024
Story: “Other universities — including East Carolina, Elizabeth City State, North Carolina Central, NC State, UNC Asheville, and UNC School of the Arts — chose to rename their offices or departments. Most of these titles have removed words like ‘diversity’ or ‘equity,’ and replaced them with ‘student success,’ ‘institutional engagement’ or ‘equal opportunity.’ (source)

North Carolina Central University

State: North Carolina
Action: Rebranded DEI office
Date: 9/12/2024
Story: “Other universities — including East Carolina, Elizabeth City State, North Carolina Central, NC State, UNC Asheville, and UNC School of the Arts — chose to rename their offices or departments. Most of these titles have removed words like ‘diversity’ or ‘equity,’ and replaced them with ‘student success,’ ‘institutional engagement’ or ‘equal opportunity.’ (source)

Cleveland State University

State: Ohio
Action: Removed certain DEI policies
Date: 12/12/2024
Story: “Five public law schools in Ohio are ending their scholarships and programs based on race following a conservative think tank’s investigation.” (source)

Ohio State University

State: Ohio
Action: Removed certain DEI policies
Date: 12/12/2024
Story: “Five public law schools in Ohio are ending their scholarships and programs based on race following a conservative think tank’s investigation.” (source)

University of Akron

State: Ohio
Action: Removed certain DEI policies
Date: 12/12/2024
Story: “Five public law schools in Ohio are ending their scholarships and programs based on race following a conservative think tank’s investigation.” (source)

University of Cincinnati

State: Ohio
Action: Removed certain DEI policies
Date: 12/12/2024
Story: “Five public law schools in Ohio are ending their scholarships and programs based on race following a conservative think tank’s investigation.” (source)

University of Toledo

State: Ohio
Action: Removed certain DEI policies
Date: 12/12/2024
Story: “Five public law schools in Ohio are ending their scholarships and programs based on race following a conservative think tank’s investigation.” (source)

University of Texas (System)

State: Texas
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 4/2/2024
Story: “Additionally, funding used to support DEI across campus prior to SB 17’s effective date will be redeployed to support teaching and research. The positions that provided support for those associate and assistant deans and a small number of staff roles across campus that were formerly focused on DEI will no longer be funded.” (source)

Texas A&M University (System)

State: Texas
Action: Scaled back DEI department
Date: 11/12/2024
Story: “The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents last week directed the president of its flagship to end 52 low-enrollment programs, including a nascent LGBTQ studies minor that conservative state legislators have cast as ‘liberal indoctrination.’” (source)

University of Houston

State: Texas
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 5/15/2024
Story: “The Texas State University System saved $3 million and the University of Houston System about $750,000 after eliminating their DEI programs and positions.” (source)

Texas State University

State: Texas
Action: Rebranded DEI office
Date: 1/10/2024
Story: “Texas State University eliminated one office and reassigned seven positions to comply with the new state law prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, though the San Marcos school says a reorganization was in the works before the legislation passed.” (source)

Stephen F. Austin State University

State: Texas
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 1/1/2024
Story: “Signed into law by Governor Abbott in June 2023, SB 17 mandates public Texas higher education institutions cannot maintain a division, office, unit or program that is established for the purpose of diversity, equity and inclusion.” (source)

Sam Houston State University

State: Texas
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 4/9/2024
Story: “Sam Houston State University complies with State of Texas prohibitions relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public institutions of higher education.” (source)

San Jacinto College

State: Texas
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 12/28/2023
Story: “Previously, we did have an office of diversity, equity, and inclusion, but the office has been dissolved, and those employees have been reassigned within the College.” (source)

Texas Tech University

State: Texas
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 8/13/2024
Story: “In previous A-J reporting, sources from Texas Tech told a reporter that ‘people who hold racist or homophobic or transphobic beliefs have been a lot more outspoken in ways that are not creating a campus community that is welcoming and safe for everyone’ with the loss of the DEI offices and programs on the Texas Tech campus.” (source)

Texas Woman’s University

State: Texas
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 5/24/2024
Story: “Texas Woman’s University leaders said they opened a center for first-generation students after closing their DEI office. More than 50% of incoming students in the system are the first in their families to attend college.” (source)

Ranger College

State: Texas
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 1/24/2025
Story: “Ranger College eliminated its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion department.” (source)

West Virginia University

State: West Virginia
Action: Dismantled DEI department
Date: 1/14/2025
Story: “While it will take time to determine the full scope of the Executive Order, as well as the subsequent federal executive order issued by President Trump, the University is taking immediate steps to comply. This includes closing the current WVU Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” (source)

Access the best DEI policy data

Download this list of universities ending DEI for free in spreadsheet form here.

Or, access the Fortune 100 DEI policy database here.

Laws impacting colleges

In public higher education, the story is different. Many of these public universities have been mandated by new laws to stop their DEI programs. Here are the notable ones to keep in mind.

Texas

2023: Texas passed Senate Bill 17 into law. The law bans DEI offices from public institutions of higher education and generally prohibits the institutions from providing programs, activities and trainings that were offered by these offices.

Alabama

2024: Senate Bill 129 prevents state agencies, local boards of education, and institutions of higher education from sponsoring diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) programs or offices.

Florida

2024: The state passed a law to “ensure that taxpayer funds can no longer be used to promote DEI on Florida’s 28 state college campuses.”

West Virginia

2025: Executive Order 3-25 prohibits West Virginia state entities and state-funded organizations from implementing DEI-related policies or practices that grant preferential treatment or require participation based on race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin.

Many more bills have died or are currently being presented. I recommend you use this resource from Best Colleges. Here’s a screenshot of that resource, but go to the site to get the full picture.

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