Most Jewish parents say Oct. 7 has affected their child’s college selection, Hillel survey finds

(JTA) – An overwhelming majority of Jewish parents of high school juniors and seniors say the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and its aftermath have affected which college their child plans to attend, according to a new survey commissioned by the Jewish campus group Hillel International.

Many families have ruled out schools over antisemitism concerns, the survey found, and a relatively small but significant proportion — 19% — said they are considering eschewing higher education for their children altogether.

The findings dovetail with a different survey, conducted by the BBYO Jewish youth movement and released in February, showing that two thirds of Jewish teens said antisemitism on college campuses had become an important factor in their college choices. Some teens said they had changed their aspirations or plans for next year because of incidents on specific campuses since Oct. 7.

The parents and teens’ anxiety has been fueled by prominent reports about antisemitic and anti-Israel activity on campuses amid the Israel-Hamas war. Some of the incidents have fueled leadership changes, faculty protests and federal investigations into specific schools.