Education Department Investigates Smith College on Transgender Admissions

The U.S. Department of Education announced on Monday that its Office for Civil Rights has opened an investigation into Smith College, a women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts, over its admissions policy for transgender women. The department stated that admitting individuals it describes as 'biological males' may violate Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education.

This exemption for single-sex institutions, according to the department, applies only to biological sex, not gender identity. The investigation focuses on access to women's intimate spaces such as dorms, bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams. Smith College's policy allows applications from those who self-identify as women, including cis, trans, and nonbinary women, a stance it affirmed in 2015 after campus activism and internal review.

The college, founded in the 1870s, has about 2,500 students and a history of educating prominent women leaders.

The probe originated from a complaint filed in June 2025 by Defending Education, a conservative group that opposes certain diversity policies in education. The complaint argued that Smith College discriminates by admitting transgender women but not transgender men, urging the department to enforce Title IX based on biological sex.

Defending Education described the policy as an exercise in sex discrimination. Smith College responded to the investigation notice by affirming its commitment to institutional values and civil rights laws, though it declined to comment on the pending inquiry.

In 2015, college leaders stated that concepts of female identity have evolved since its founding, positioning the admissions change as aligning with its mission to educate women of promise.

“An all-women’s college loses all meaning if it is admitting biological males. Allowing biological males into spaces designed for women raises serious concerns about privacy, fairness, and compliance under federal law.”

This investigation occurs amid the Trump administration's actions to restrict transgender participation in various public spheres. The administration has pursued policies limiting trans individuals in sports, military service, and gender-affirming care, including lawsuits against states allowing trans women in women's athletics.

Last year, Smith College adopted a new National Collegiate Athletic Association policy prohibiting transgender women from women's sports teams. Sources agree that women's colleges have declined in number, from over 200 to about 30 as of 2023, with many adapting policies to include transgender students.

Advocates argue such inclusions honor the original intent of educating those marginalized by gender. The department emphasized its intent to uphold federal law and restore what it calls common sense in education. The Education Department's position contrasts with regulations issued during a previous administration, which expanded Title IX protections to include gender identity but were later struck down by a federal judge in January 2025 due to legal shortcomings.

Smith College's case could set precedents for other single-sex institutions. While sources concur on the investigation's details, they vary in framing its implications for transgender rights.

If the investigation finds violations, Smith College could face requirements to alter its admissions or lose federal funding eligibility under Title IX. The department's press release highlighted concerns over privacy and fairness in women's spaces. Multiple sources note this as part of a pattern of federal actions targeting transgender access to education and sports.