Most US grad students show little prejudice, but some are hostile to Jews, study finds

A Brandeis University study of 3,107 graduate students at 222 US colleges found that 62% show low prejudice toward Jews and other minorities, while 11% are hostile to Israel and 9% hostile to Jews. Humanities PhD students are most likely to express hostility to Israel (26%). The Israel-Palestinian conflict ranked last among five issues students cared about. 14% of Jewish grad students faced antisemitic remarks; 13% were blamed for Israel's actions.

A new Brandeis University study finds that most US graduate students express little prejudice toward Jews and other minority groups, but a small minority hold hostile views toward Jews or Israel. The survey of 3,107 graduate students at 222 US colleges, conducted in March and April 2026, found that 62% fell into a category characterized by low levels of prejudice toward Jews, Israel, Muslims, Black people, and Asian Americans. About 11% were classified as hostile to Israel and 9% as explicitly hostile to Jews. Humanities PhD students were the most likely to express hostility to Israel, with 26% classified as hostile, compared to 14% of social science PhD students and 9% of STEM doctoral students. The study also found that more than one in 10 Jewish graduate students were subjected to antisemitic remarks or personally blamed for Israel's actions. Despite attention to Israel-related campus protests, the Israel-Palestinian conflict ranked last among five issues respondents cared about, behind the Trump administration and American democracy, racism, immigration, and LGBTQ+ issues. International graduate students were more likely than domestic students to be hostile toward Jews (17% vs. 7%) but less likely to be hostile toward Israel (4% vs. 13%). The report's authors recommended that universities engage more with doctoral students, address prejudice among international students, and provide clearer education about protest rules and free speech. The article's framing relies on neutral, fact-led reporting with attribution verbs and procedural descriptors, and no loaded language or emotional appeals in the narrative voice.