Department of Education investigates Smith College for admitting men

The U.S. Department of Education announced that its Office of Civil Rights has launched an investigation into Smith College for admitting men to the women's educational institution, allowing them access to women-only areas such as bathrooms.

“Today, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened an investigation into Smith College, one of the nation's largest all-women's colleges, for admitting biological males and granting them access to female-only spaces, including dormitories, bathrooms, locker rooms, and athletic equipment,” the department said in a statement Monday. “OCR will determine whether the university violated Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) by allowing biological males into the intimate spaces of women.”

“Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance,” the department explained. “Title IX contains a single-sex exception that allows colleges to enroll exclusively male or female students, but the exception applies on the basis of biological sex difference, not subjective gender identity. An all-girls college that enrolls male students who profess a female identity would no longer qualify as single-sex under Title IX.”

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While the institution describes itself as a “women's college,” the school “considers for admission any applicant who identifies as a woman,” explaining that “cis, trans, and non-binary women are eligible to apply to Smith.”

A Department of Education sign is displayed outside its federal student aid office on May 18, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

“Smith College has been notified that the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has opened a Title IX investigation into the college,” the school said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. “The College is fully committed to its institutional values, including compliance with civil rights laws. The College does not comment on pending government investigations.”

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Smith College is located in the state of Massachusetts.

“An all-women's college loses all meaning if it admits biological men,” Undersecretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement.

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Campus of Smith College, a women's liberal arts college. (John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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“Allowing biological men into spaces designed for women raises serious concerns about privacy, fairness, and compliance with federal law. The Trump Administration will continue to follow the law and fight to restore common sense,” Richey said.