The University of Southern California received an ‘A’ grade in the 2026 Campus Antisemitism Report Card released by the Anti-Defamation League, up from a ‘C’ the university received last year.
USC is the only school in California to receive an ‘A’ grade, according to Sarah Martin, the director of communications strategy at ADL Los Angeles.
According to the ADL — an international advocacy organization working against antisemitism — the percentage of universities receiving ‘A’ or ‘B’ grades nationwide increased from 41% in 2025 to 58% in 2026, reflecting stronger policies and clearer enforcement against antisemitism across campuses.
Since 2024, the ADL has published an annual Report Card that evaluates colleges and universities based on their response to antisemitism and support for Jewish life on campus. The report grades schools from ‘A’ to ‘F’ based on several factors, including administrative policies, campus climate and conduct, and resources available for Jewish students. This year, the report card assessed 150 colleges and universities.
“USC is among just 23 schools nationwide to receive an ‘A’ grade in the 2026 report card, so USC should be very proud of that accomplishment,” David Englin, the senior regional director of ADL Los Angeles, said.
In the 2025 report, the University of Southern California received a ‘C’ grade, indicating that improvements were needed in addressing antisemitism and maintaining a safe campus environment. While the university has an active Jewish community — including organizations such as Hillel and Chabad — the 2025 report cited concerns about campus climate and institutional responses to antisemitic incidents.
The ADL works with universities during grading evaluations, surveying the school administration, students and Jewish institutions associated with the campus, Englin said. During the evaluations, academic institutions are given the opportunity to respond with clarifying information and dialogue with the ADL, he added.
Englin said USC’s established approaches to antisemitism and reduction in on-campus hate incidents had helped raise its grade, citing its Advisory Committee on Jewish Life, student and administrator anti-discrimination training, and research efforts such as the USC Shoah Foundation’s Countering Antisemitism Lab.
“Our goal is not simply to assess an institution and give it a grade and walk away. Our intention is to have an ongoing partnership with the institution,” Englin said. “The ideal scenario would be for every college and university in the United States to get an ‘A’ — that would reflect a safe and welcoming environment across the country.”
The ADL said universities that improved their scores often adopted clearer definitions of antisemitism, expanded training and education programs, and strengthened accountability measures. Englin said he hoped the report card would continue to serve as a tool to open discussions about Jewish life on campus.
“There are certainly institutions, including some in the L.A. region, that are newly added to the report card because of concerns about things going on with faculty or in the classroom,” Englin said. “But if past history with the report card tells us anything, it’s that once a school does poorly one year and engages with us, then we’re able to work together to change the climate and move that grade up.”