Federal Investigation Launched Into Florida State University Over Race and Sex-Based Scholarships

The Department of Education has launched a formal civil rights investigation into Florida State University following complaints that 32 scholarship programs illegally discriminate based on race, sex or national origin. An August 4 letter from the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights, obtained by Fox News Digital, indicates the agency will examine whether FSU violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX protections in administering the disputed scholarships.

The inquiry stems from a July 2025 complaint filed by the Equal Protection Project, a watchdog group founded by Cornell Law professor William Jacobson. The organization identified 14 scholarships it claims discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin; 13 based on sex; and five that allegedly discriminate on both grounds. FSU, which serves more than 46,000 students in Tallahassee, receives federal financial assistance and must therefore comply with applicable civil rights statutes.

Jacobson characterized FSU’s scholarship structure as exceptionally problematic, noting that among roughly 290 institutions his organization has challenged, only a handful maintain comparable numbers of scholarships with allegedly discriminatory provisions. He pointed to Florida’s broader political efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, suggesting campus practices had not kept pace with state policy changes.

FSU rejected the allegations, stating that all students remain eligible to apply for scholarships under investigation. The university maintained that while donors may express preferences regarding recipients, such preferences do not constitute formal eligibility requirements and that merit remains the primary evaluation criterion. The university noted that private donations, rather than institutional funds, support the contested programs.

The distinction between donor preferences and mandatory eligibility requirements forms the crux of the dispute. Jacobson argued this semantic approach fails to shield FSU from legal liability, contending that scholarships promoted and awarded through the university system remain the institution’s responsibility regardless of donor attribution. Programs cited in the complaint include the Crockett Family Fund for Excellence, which expressed a preference for African American recipients, and the Crossman Career Builders Scholarship, which favored female applicants who are Black, Hispanic or members of the Seminole Tribe.

The Equal Protection Project has not sought to eliminate scholarship funding but rather to remove discriminatory selection criteria. Jacobson stated that the organization wants universities to preserve financial support while extending fair consideration to all applicants. The group also called on Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration to examine the programs independently.

The DOE emphasized that opening the investigation does not indicate a preliminary determination of wrongdoing. The Office for Civil Rights said it will serve as a neutral fact-finder, collecting and analyzing evidence from FSU, complainants and other sources before reaching conclusions about potential violations. Jacobson nevertheless characterized the decision to pursue formal investigation as a significant development that does not occur in all cases.