We chart how rarely colleges expel students accused of sexual violence

Expulsions and suspensions for sexual violence are rare across many of New York’s largest colleges – not just Cornell University. Eleven colleges and universities that averaged at least 10,000 enrolled students per year did not expel a single student or dismiss a single employee for sexual violence

Which NY universities have the highest expulsion rate for sexual violence?

The findings in New York are similar to those of a2022 USA TODAY investigation that examined sexual misconduct case outcomes at more than 100 of the nation’s largest public universities.

The Title IX process is confusing and difficult for young people to navigate, especially survivors in the throes of crisis, said Tamara Holder, a civil rights attorney who represents survivors in sexual assault and abuse cases, including in campus disciplinary proceedings – which is one reason why so many reports fall through the cracks.

Some schools issue lenient sanctions because they fear being sued by perpetrators who will fight back in court, she said. Many accused students also hire attorneys who negotiate what are effectively plea deals that result in light punishments. For some schools, she said, "protecting themselves is more important than protecting victims and potential victims."

“I think Title IX is a joke,” Holder said. “It's this quasi-criminal-slash-educational process that obviously isn't working because the numbers don't support that there's enough punishment.”

The data come from sexual violence case outcome stats that more than 200 colleges and universities submit annually to the New York State Education Department under the state’s Enough is Enough law passed in 2015. The state has collected the self-reported data each year from 2018 through 2024; it has not yet published the 2025 data, which was due Oct. 1.

USA TODAY’s data analysis comes as Cornell, one of New York’s two Ivy League colleges, faces intense scrutiny over gang-rape allegations a female student made in 2024 against seven men who were members of the Chi Phi fraternity. Cornell did not answer detailed questions from USA TODAY, including the specific sanctions it issued to those seven students and whether they are reflected in the 2024 data.

Rebecca Valli, a Cornell spokesperson, emphasized that not all reports to the Title IX office proceed to a formal investigation for a host of reasons, including that the school may not know the identity of an accused person or victim, it lacks jurisdiction over the accused person or the victim does not consent to a full investigation.

“Cornell takes each report seriously and, to the greatest extent possible, honors a complainant’s decision not to pursue resolution,” Valli said in an emailed statement. “The university provides support and resources regardless of whether the respondent is subject to our conduct processes, and regardless of whether a complainant consents to an investigation.

The New York Times reported that Cornell expelled two of the students accused of gang-rape, suspended or banned three from campus – one had already graduated – and directed the other two to undergo training and write reflective essays.

Cornell, which averaged 29,000 enrolled students over the seven-year period, suspended a total of 14 students or employees from 2018 to 2024 – an average of 2 per year – and expelled or dismissed seven – an average of one. Its Title IX office received 1,216 reports of sexual violence over that time, formally investigated 162 and found the accused person responsible in 51. The other students found at fault received sanctions that did not require them to leave campus.

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Cornell expelled less than half found responsible for sexual violence

Cornell’s rate of expulsions and suspensions per 10,000 students exceeded that of 20 of the 26 New York colleges that enrolled at least that many students per year on average and provided complete data to the state for all seven years.

Binghamton University’s rate was the highest: 3.8 expulsions or suspensions per year per 10,000 enrolled. It expelled or dismissed 13 students or employees for sexual violence and suspended 35.

Syracuse University expelled or dismissed the most people: 18. It suspended 27.

Columbia University, New York’s other Ivy League school, expelled or dismissed four people and suspended 12.

The expulsion or suspension rates across New York colleges largely mirror the findings of a 2022 USA TODAY investigation, which examined sexual misconduct case outcomes at 107 of the nation’s largest public universities.

Of those schools, Virginia Tech University had the highest rate, expelling or suspending five students for sexual misconduct per year per 10,000 enrolled from 2016 through 2020. The methodology for that analysis, however, differed slightly; those cases cover a wider range of offenses, including sexual harassment, and do not encompass discipline issued against employees.

Together, the schools USA TODAY analyzed for that investigation suspended 1 of every 12,400 students enrolled per year for sexual misconduct. They expelled 1 in 22,900.

The rates across the 26 large New York colleges were similar. Together, they suspended 1 student or employee for sexual violence per year per 15,500 students enrolled. They expelled or dismissed 1 in 44,000.

Kenny Jacoby is an investigative reporter for USA TODAY. Contact him at kjacoby@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: We chart how rarely colleges expel students accused of sexual violence