According to the DOE, the investigation cites FSU for over 32 instances in which its scholarships discriminated against students based on race or sex.

The probe examines whether the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin and Title IX by discriminating on the basis of sex. The investigation stems from a civil rights complaint filed by the Equal Protection Project on July 18, 2025.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, William Jacobson, founder and president of the Equal Protection Project and Cornell Law professor, noted that the Florida university stood out among hundreds of other schools his organization has challenged.

"We have challenged over 290 colleges and universities, and only a handful have this many,” Jacobson said.

Jacobson expressed surprise at the Tallahassee institution’s alleged violations, noting how aggressively Florida has historically pursued the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The complaint identified 32 donor-funded scholarships on the FSU website that restrict eligibility based on race or sex. Many of the programs target Black students or women, according to the filing. The Equal Protection Project argued that these restrictions violate federal law by excluding students who do not meet the race or sex criteria.

This action aligns with broader enforcement efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate race and sex-based preferences in federally funded education programs. Similar complaints have been leveled against other universities in recent years.

FSU has not issued a public response to the investigation as of Thursday afternoon. The university maintains compliance with Title IX and other civil rights statutes on its website.