The conversation about sexual assault on college campuses has grown widespread in the aftermath of the Brock Turner rape case at Stanford University, where the survivor’s powerful story captured the nation’s attention. Since the case’s outcome, school administrators and safety officials are under greater pressure to inform the public about how they intend to keep students safe during the school year.

Campus sexual assault statistics consistently show a failure by the administration to prioritize student safety. This is why we want to arm students and parents with the knowledge necessary to protect themselves and, in hopefully rare circumstances, be as brave as the survivors before them.

Sexual assault should never happen to anyone. However, over 321,500 men and women report experiencing sexual assault annually. The Pride Law Firm attorneys fight on behalf of sexual assault survivors nationwide.

We have helped hundreds of survivors on their path toward healing and recovering their power. If you or a loved one need an advocate, contact us online or by phone at ​619-516-8166 to learn about your legal options.

Sexual Assault on College Campuses Statistics: The Unseen Epidemic

While many are aware that sexual assaults can happen on college campuses, many are also not conscious of how widespread it is. Unfortunately, part of this is due to U.S. college campuses grossly underreporting the number of sexual assault instances on school grounds.

Fear often fuels underreporting, as these incidents paint a negative picture of these college campuses. However, the reality is that colleges serve as breeding grounds for sexual assault and abuse. Below are some disturbing college sexual assault statistics that unveil the prevalence of abuse on campuses. 

How Often Does Sexual Assault Take Place on College Campuses?

Despite severe underreporting, the data shows that sexual assault remains a serious problem on college campuses. Even with many cases going unreported, sexual violence is a widespread issue: 

• 13% of all graduate and undergraduate students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
• Sexual offenses made up 21% of all crimes reported to colleges and universities in 2021.
• 5.8% of students have experienced stalking since entering college.
• Male college students (18-24) are 78% more likely than non-students of the same age to be victims of rape or sexual assault.

Timing and Risk Periods for College Students

Certain times of the academic year are associated with heightened risks of sexual assault, with incoming students particularly vulnerable. For example: 

• More than 50% of college sexual assaults occur in August, September, October, or November.
• College students are at an increased risk during the first few months of their first and second semesters.

Sexual Assault Rates Among Graduate Students vs. Undergraduates

Sexual assault affects both graduate and undergraduate students, though the rates and risk factors vary between these two groups. Below are some statistics that provide insight into the unique challenges faced by each student population: 

• Among graduate and professional students, 9.7% of females and 2.5% of males experience rape or sexual assault.
• Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault.
• In 2019, undergraduate students were more likely to report nonconsensual sexual contact than graduate students.
  • 18.5% of undergraduates reported experiencing sexual contact without consent.
  • Only 8.9% of graduate students reported the same.
• Graduate students were more likely than other students to experience sexual harassment from professors or instructors.

High-Risk Groups and Demographics

Certain groups of students face a disproportionately high risk of experiencing sexual assault. These groups include not only women but also gender-nonconforming students, whose experiences are often underrepresented in broader discussions of sexual violence: 

• 23.1% of TGQN (transgender, genderqueer, nonconforming) college students have been sexually assaulted.
• Meanwhile, in 2019, 25.9% of female undergraduates reported nonconsensual sexual contact since enrolling, compared to 6.8% of male undergraduate students. 
• Also, TGQN undergraduate students reported the highest rates of harassment (65.1%), intimate partner violence (21.5%), and stalking (15.2%) on their college campuses.

Campus Sexual Assault Statistics Show the Problematic Effects of Underreporting

The problem of underreporting sexual assault on college campuses begins with the university culture as a whole. Unfortunately, only 20% of female student victims aged 18-24 report to law enforcement.

Many victims of sexual assault refrain from reporting the crime against them, believing it will not yield any positive results. They might not recall the incident, fear shame or culpability, or simply doubt credibility.

An analysis by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) also revealed additional factors contributing to underreporting, including:

• Individual students fear reporting to school authorities or local law enforcement.
• Procedural gaps in how educational institutions respond to and process incidents.
• Reluctance by school officials to create or improve reporting programs.
• A combination of various other factors.

Regardless of the reasons behind underreporting, colleges and universities are legally obligated to monitor and report sexual assaults occurring on campus accurately.

And colleges don't make reporting easy. The AAUW study also revealed that 89% of 11,000 U.S. schools reported a 0% rate of rapes on their campus.

Furthermore, 77% of higher-learning campuses reported zero incidents of sexual assault, including fondling, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking — a shocking statistic that speaks to the inadequacy of reporting structures rather than the frequency of the events. 

Experts agree that these improbable statistics are signs that schools are actually unwilling to track or divulge the prevalence of sexual assault on their campuses as they have a vested interest in retaining these rather improbable statistics. 

Consequently, victims' voices remain unheard, and the majority of sexual predators on college campuses escape justice.

The School’s Role in Preventing and Disclosing Sexual Assault on Campus

University officials often face the difficult task of determining fault within sexual assault reports and also applying corrective measures in the circumstances. For instance, at the University of Southern California (USC), George Tyndall, a school gynecologist, was found to have sexually assaulted hundreds of female student-athletes over the course of several years. 

His conduct included performing unnecessary medical exams, inappropriate touching, photographing sensitive body parts, and making inappropriate comments. This behavior left many of the student victims with long-term trauma and psychological damage. The case resulted in a settlement of $851.6 million distributed to the victims.

A federal investigation revealed that the school mishandled reports about Dr. Tyndall’s behavior, which may have allowed the abuse to continue. The investigation further revealed that USC’s top brass turned a blind eye to Tyndall’s behavior — many officials knew about allegations against Tyndall but failed to disclose incidents to federal agents.

The Tyndall case illustrates two main points about sexual assaults on campus: 

• First, sexual assaults can happen in various settings besides peer-to-peer interactions and can include systemic, ongoing abuse from faculty or school staff. 
• Secondly, underreporting and inaction on the part of school officials create further problems and leave the doors open for continued abuses to occur.

As a result of the Dr. George Tyndall case, USC reached an agreement with the Education Department to improve its record-keeping and recording system for sexual assault complaints involving campus employees.

Even with changes like these, and with increased pressure placed on universities to protect students from sexual assault on college campuses over the past 25 years, there hasn’t been a decline in sexual assault cases on campus. 

A survey found that the rate of nonconsensual sexual contact by force or inability to consent increased by 3% from 2015 to 2019 for undergraduate women. Additionally, in 2021, more than 11,580 sexual crimes were reported on college campuses. From 2015 to 2021, the number of sexual offenses reported at colleges went up by 23%.

Whether the assault is happening on campus through organized activities or in social settings such as parties, the effects are real.

If you or a loved one has experienced sexual assault on a college campus or elsewhere, The Pride Law Firm is here for you. When you’re ready, you can set up a 100% free and private conversation with our team by calling 619-516-8166 or contacting us online.

How to Prevent Sexual Assault on College Campuses

Colleges owe students and parents the assurance that, if the unthinkable happens, the school will uphold their rights to ensure that a safe environment is restored and those who are guilty of sexual assault are held accountable.

In addition to improving campus security and making reporting easier for victims, colleges must work to improve their overall culture. Educating students about the supremacy of consent in sexual situations is key to preventing acts of violence, and victims of sexual assault must be shielded from subsequent harassment and trauma.

Parents should be encouraged to prepare their college students to protect and advocate for their own sexual safety, as well as to intervene on behalf of others. By offering their voices in support of each other’s safety, college students can create a future where nobody has to be a victim.

As mentioned, underreporting is a serious problem that may skew a student or applicant’s perception of a school. Perhaps what is more valuable is to consider the school’s policies on handling and processing sexual assault incidents, especially those that involve faculty or staff.

If you or your child is starting a new college term, make sure they are prepared with the following protective measures for avoiding and preventing sexual assault on campus:

• Understand that only yes means yes, even in the cases of committed relationships.‍
• Trust your intuition. If you have a bad feeling from an interaction you’ve been part of or from an interaction you’ve observed a friend having, take preventive measures. It’s better to be safe than sorry.‍
• Stick with your friends, especially at night. Staying together is key to protecting your own safety and that of your friends.‍
• Know your alcohol limits. Over half of sexual assaults committed against college students involve alcohol.‍
• Never leave your drink alone, and avoid drinking from a communal alcohol source (like a punch bowl) or from a drink someone hands to you.‍
• If a person is too intoxicated or otherwise unable to give knowledgeable consent, no sexual activity should take place.
• Create a safety plan. In the event that you are in a sexual assault situation, have a plan in place to contact others for help or to remove yourself from the situation.
• Be an “UpStander” – If you see a sexual assault occurring, stand up and intervene if safe to help the victim or notify authorities.

How the “It’s on Us” Movement Could Shed More Light on Sexual Assault on Campus Statistics

A public awareness campaign known as “It’s on Us” is spreading among universities. The campaign provides guidance for both men and women to intervene before campus sexual assault takes place. 

The campaign’s mission is to combat campus sexual assault by engaging all students, including young men, and launching the largest student organizing program of its kind in grassroots awareness and prevention education programs.

This stance and public awareness of situations such as the Brock Turner case have pushed hundreds of schools to reform their reporting and discipline procedures to make it easier for sexual assault victims to come forward.

It is expected that in the coming years, reports of campus sexual assault and misconduct will rise. Despite this disturbing realization, a rise in assault reports would actually be a positive indication that colleges are finally beginning to serve the rights of victims.

What to Do if You Have Been Sexually Assaulted on Campus

Campus sexual assault is a serious problem that can happen in several different settings. If you or someone you know has experienced an assault or abuse, no matter what the circumstances, it is never the victim’s fault.

Hope and healing are ahead, but you may need help getting there. Here are a few steps that can provide you with the help and support you need after an assault:

• Go to a safe place: This is not the time to be alone, as you may need emotional support. If there is no one you can go to, call someone to talk to them, no matter how late it is. Call 911 or campus authorities if you are in immediate danger. ‍
• Seek medical attention: Go to the hospital or campus clinic as soon as you can and receive treatment for injuries or infections. You can receive medical treatment and provide medical evidence without having to report to the police if you’re not ready. However, if you choose to report or file charges, the evidence collected soon after an assault can make an investigation more effective.‍
• Report the assault to police and campus officials: Reporting an assault does not immediately commit you to filing charges, but it does make it easier if you decide to file later. You can have someone go with you or be with you while you make the report. If the perpetrator was a campus employee or staff, it is important to report them, as others may have been affected.
• Consider whether you want to initiate legal action: You have the right to choose whether or not to file charges, and the decision is ultimately up to you. Initiating legal action can be difficult, but it is often necessary to bring the perpetrator to justice and help you recover. Contacting an attorney for initial advice on how to proceed is also ok.

The Pride Law Firm Offers Support After College Campus Sexual Assault

The days following a sexual assault, especially one that happens in a campus setting, can be difficult and confusing, but understand that you are never alone and that help is available for you. As discussed, underreporting incidents at and by colleges is a serious issue that impacts sexual assault on campus statistics. We understand how challenging it can be to contact someone or file a report.

For Jessica Pride and the team at The Pride Law Firm, creating safe and healthy environments at educational institutions is one of our top priorities. The first steps can be hard, but our team is here to ensure confidential, compassionate legal services to make the process more manageable.

Reach out to us at 619-516-8166 to receive the support and guidance you need. Together, we can help ensure educational institutions do their part to prevent and manage incidents.