Young Jewish girl raising an Israeli flag in the air. (© Inna - stock.adobe.com)
New survey reveals how the rising tide of antisemitism since the October 7 massacre is impacting their college experience
MEDFORD, Mass. — It’s been one year since the heinous attack by the terror organization Hamas on Israel, an event that not only ignited a devastating war in Gaza but also set off a year of unprecedented turmoil across American college campuses. Now, a new study reveals the profound impact that the October 7 massacre and the ongoing war since has had on U.S. college students, both Jewish and non-Jewish alike.
The study was conducted for the Jim Joseph Foundation by Dr. Eitan Hersh, a professor of political science at Tufts University, and Dahlia Lyss, a 2024 graduate of Tufts University who now works in polling at Impact Research in Washington, DC. The results revealed significant shifts in attitudes and experiences among college students in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, and the struggles Jewish students are facing when it comes to their identity.
Methodology and Scope
The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining large-scale surveys with in-depth focus groups. Over 1,000 Jewish students and 1,500 non-Jewish students from schools with significant Jewish populations participated in the surveys. The research was conducted in three waves: April 2022, November-December 2023, and April-June 2024. This longitudinal design allowed researchers to track changes in individual students’ attitudes over time, providing unique insights into the impact of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent events.
Focus groups were also conducted, offering qualitative depth to the quantitative survey data. These discussions provided a platform for students to express their thoughts and experiences in their own words, adding richness and context to the survey findings.
The survey implementation was carried out by College Pulse, a survey research and analytics company specializing in understanding the attitudes and behaviors of college students. For the focus group component, College Pulse collaborated with Dr. Debra Mashek, an expert in qualitative research, who designed the focus group script and led the sessions.
Rising Tensions and Shifting Social Dynamics
One of the most striking findings of the study was the extent to which the conflict has strained social relationships on campus. One-third of Jewish respondents reported losing friends due to conflicting views on the war, with this figure rising to 45% for Jewish students at elite universities. The social impact wasn’t limited to Jewish students; 20% of non-Jewish students said they wouldn’t want to be friends with someone who supports the existence of Israel as a Jewish state.
These statistics paint a picture of growing social divisions on campus, with the Israel-Hamas conflict serving as a flashpoint for broader ideological rifts. The emotional toll of these divisions was evident in the focus groups. One Jewish student, nearly in tears, expressed:
“There is a constant frustration for me that there is a whole history that people that are really refusing to recognize and that the history did not start 70 years ago like people want to think and there is a much longer history… I feel like people think that they can’t be friends with someone if they don’t hold every single perfect idea that I hold and it makes me sad that that is the only thing you could possibly see in a person.”
This quote encapsulates the frustration and sadness many Jewish students feel about the oversimplification of a complex historical situation and the social pressures they face on campus.
Perceptions of Campus Climate and Antisemitism
The study revealed a growing divide in how Jewish and non-Jewish students perceive their campus environments. In the 2024 survey, 67% of Jewish students believed their peers were mostly sympathetic to Palestinians, compared to 58% of non-Jewish students who held this view. This perception gap was even more pronounced at elite institutions, where 83% of Jewish students and 73% of non-Jewish students felt their campuses were predominantly pro-Palestinian.
Alongside this shift in perceived campus climate, the study documented a sharp increase in Jewish students reporting experiences of antisemitism. The percentage of Jewish students who said fears of antisemitism kept them away from Jewish activities on campus doubled from 8% to 16% between 2022 and 2023. Simultaneously, the number of students who said they had no fears of antisemitism dropped precipitously from 38% to 20%.
Ultimately, many Jewish students are feeling increasingly isolated and vulnerable on their campuses, caught between their identities and the prevailing political sentiment around them.
Identity Strengthening and Social Pressures
Interestingly, despite the challenges faced by Jewish students, the research found that their sense of Jewish identity actually strengthened during this period. The percentage of Jewish students who said their Jewish identity is very important to them increased from 47% in 2022 to 55% in 2023 before settling at 49% in 2024.
However, this heightened sense of identity came with increased social pressures. The rate at which Jewish students said they hide their Jewish identity to fit in on campus doubled between 2022 and 2023. Similarly, the percentage agreeing that people negatively judge students for participating in Jewish activities rose from 19% to 35%.
These statistics suggest a complex dynamic where Jewish students are simultaneously feeling a stronger connection to their identity and a greater need to conceal it in certain social contexts.
News Consumption and Views on the Conflict
The study also uncovered interesting patterns in how students consume news about the conflict. Jewish students were far more likely to follow news about the war, with 74-79% saying they followed it somewhat or very closely, compared to only about 50% of non-Jewish students. Interestingly, among non-Jewish students, those who oppose the existence of Israel as a Jewish state were much more likely to follow the news closely than those who support it.
When asked about their primary news sources, 41% of Jewish respondents in 2023 cited American news outlets like the New York Times, CNN, and NPR, compared to 30% of non-Jewish students. Social media was a more significant source for non-Jewish students, with 14% citing it as their primary source versus 9% of Jewish students.
The research also delved into students’ views on the conflict itself. Among Jewish students in 2024, 51% blamed Hamas for the current war, while 18% blamed Israel. The remainder blamed both equally (22%) or thought neither party was to blame (9%). Non-Jewish students held opposite views, with 35% blaming Israel, 18% blaming Hamas, 30% blaming both equally, and 17% blaming neither.
Socioeconomic Factors and Mental Health Impact
An unexpected finding of the study was the strong correlation between socioeconomic status and attitudes toward Israel. Students from wealthier backgrounds, both Jewish and non-Jewish, were more likely to support the existence of Israel as a Jewish state. For instance, among Jewish students, support ranged from about 40% among those from lower or working-class families to about 75% among those from upper-class families.
The research also highlighted the impact of the conflict on students’ mental health. In the fall of 2023, 25% of Jewish students rated their mental health as poor, compared to 16% of non-Jewish students. By spring 2024, these figures had dropped to 13% and 10%, respectively, suggesting a temporary decline in mental health among Jewish students immediately following the outbreak of the war.
Perspectives on Resolution
Despite the tensions and divisions revealed by the study, there were some signs of common ground. In the focus group discussions, many students across different backgrounds expressed support for a two-state solution as the most practical resolution to the conflict, even if it wasn’t their ideal outcome.
As one non-Jewish student put it: “I think that there should be a compromise where Palestine can be free but Israel can also have its own nation.”
This sentiment, echoed by others in the focus groups, suggests that even amid heightened tensions, there’s a recognition among many students of the need for a balanced approach to resolving the conflict.
Looking Ahead
The comprehensive nature of this study, combining longitudinal survey data with in-depth focus groups, provides a nuanced picture of the complex dynamics at play on American college campuses. By tracking changes in individual students over time and comparing Jewish and non-Jewish perspectives, the research offers valuable insights into how global events can shape campus experiences and interpersonal relationships.
“I have a friend who is Jewish and his sister lives in Tel Aviv, so when he talks to me about the conflict, it’s more so about safety and wellbeing than being about the overall conflict,” one non-Jewish student said. “With my Muslim friends, it might be less about that and more about the politics and what is going on in the news… It is important to be open and empathetic to the people you are engaging with and to consider their perspectives and experiences.”
The findings reveal a campus environment where tensions are high, social divisions are deepening, and many students—particularly Jewish students—are struggling to navigate their identities and relationships in a politically charged atmosphere. At the same time, the research also shows resilience among Jewish students, with many reporting a strengthened sense of identity despite the challenges they face.
As universities grapple with these challenges, the findings of this study may prove crucial in developing strategies to foster understanding, promote dialogue, and ensure that all students feel safe and respected on campus, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs. The research underscores the need for nuanced, empathetic approaches to addressing campus tensions, and highlights the importance of creating spaces for open, respectful dialogue about complex global issues.
Ultimately, this study serves not only as a snapshot of a tumultuous period on American campuses but also as a call to action for educational institutions to address the deep-seated issues of identity, belonging, and political engagement that shape students’ experiences in higher education.
