Cornell survey finds 35 percent of female undergrads reported nonconsensual sexual contact in 2025
A Cornell University poll released in 2025 found that more than 35% of undergraduate women reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact at some point during their enrollment. The results have drawn renewed attention amid heightened scrutiny of a separate 2024 allegation of sexual assault on the Ithaca campus.
Why It Matters
The survey measures the prevalence of nonconsensual sexual contact among a large student population at an Ivy League institution, a finding that has implications for campus safety policies and public scrutiny of how universities respond to sexual misconduct allegations. The timing of the release coincides with renewed focus on a high-profile 2024 case at Cornell.
Key Facts
- Institution: Cornell University
- Survey year: 2025
- Population surveyed: Undergraduate women
- Reported prevalence: Over 35% reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact during their time at the university
- Context: Results gained renewed attention following scrutiny of a 2024 allegation of sexual assault on Cornell's campus
A university-run poll at Cornell in 2025 found that more than 35% of undergraduate women said they had experienced nonconsensual sexual contact at some point while enrolled at the school. The figure was reported by the institution following its survey of the undergraduate population.
The survey’s findings have resurfaced in public discussion as they coincided with renewed scrutiny of a separate sexual assault allegation from 2024 involving members of the Cornell community. That earlier allegation prompted attention to the university’s handling of student safety and misconduct investigations.
Cornell conducted the poll and reported the prevalence figure, but the available account does not include details about the survey methodology, sample size, or the exact phrasing used to define nonconsensual sexual contact. Those specifics are typically important for interpreting prevalence estimates and comparing them with other studies.
University-run surveys and external reviews of campus sexual misconduct policies have been central to ongoing debates about how higher-education institutions prevent and respond to sexual violence. The 2025 poll’s results add to a broader set of data used by administrators, student groups, and oversight bodies when assessing campus safety and support services.
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