National reports have identified the University of Utah as having the highest number of reported rapes of any university or college in the country.

The school had “nearly double the number logged at the next-highest schools,” the New York Post reported Saturday, citing the 146 reported rapes the U. documented in 2024.

That number is right. But there is context that explains that 2024 count — and there is more recent data that shows the U. has since seen a drop in reported sexual violence since then.

Both the New York Post and My Daughter’s Team, an advocacy organization focused on preventing sexual violence, shared 2024 data over the weekend from what is known as Clery Act reports.

The reports track crimes — including sexual assault — both on and near campus, and schools are required to compile them each year. They are typically made public by the first day of October.

In 2024, the U. saw a major increase in both reported rapes and dating violence: the 146 figure the New York Post shared, along with 122 cases of dating violence.

The publication identified the next highest count of reported rapes at the University of Colorado Boulder (96).

The U. has previously attributed its increase in reported rapes for 2024 to one “multiple-month relationship plagued by interpersonal violence.” In total, 110 of the school’s reported rapes in 2024 stemmed from that.

Another 110 were also logged in the dating violence category from that same relationship, the U. explained when 2024 numbers were originally released.

Both the victim and the alleged perpetrator were students at the time, the U. noted, and both had since graduated and left the school.

The person who came forward asked for resources but did not want the case to be prosecuted, the university said.

The assaults allegedly happened in on-campus student housing during the 2022-23 school year and were reported to school police about a year after the relationship ended.

That’s why they are included in the 2024 tally, because that’s when the U. learned about the allegations and that’s how the school is federally mandated to count them.

The U.S. Department of Education also requires that each alleged assault be counted separately, including when that involves the same alleged victim reporting repeated abuse in a single relationship.

It wasn’t the first time the U. has seen and reported a situation like that.

The school’s Clery report in 2023 included a similar increase at the school, with 175 reported rapes. The school said 150 stemmed from one “dangerous relationship” during the 2021-22 academic year.

That relationship did not involve any of the same people from the cases reported in 2024. But it was the same dynamic at play.

“It’s not unique in that it’s happening,” said Chris Linder, the U. president’s senior adviser on interpersonal violence, in an episode of the U.’s podcast. “What’s unique is that people are finally feeling comfortable coming forward and saying, ‘This is happening to me.’”

She added: “I think there’s an increased awareness that people realize that sexual assault is not just a stranger jumping out of the bushes. It’s also something that’s happening in relationships.”

Even in a partnership, she stressed, it is still assault when there is not consent.

What does the more recent 2025 data show?

Those spikes in 2023 and 2024 certainly make the numbers look high, Linder noted.

But the data for 2025 — released earlier this month — marks a return to a more typical year.

The U. had 23 reported rapes in 2025. That makes it the highest of any Utah college or university but not among the highest in the nation.

It also aligns more closely with the U.’s average. Over the five years prior to 2023 and 2024, the U. averaged 21 reported rapes per year.

Linder said when numbers increase, it can actually be viewed as a positive thing — that more victims are willing to come forward.

“It is definitely happening on every campus in the country, so when campuses have higher numbers, that actually means that they’re doing a good job making it OK for students to come forward to get help,” she said.

Sexual and partner violence, Linder noted, are the most underreported crimes across the country.

As such, Clery reports should not be seen as the real numbers of what is actually happening on campus, she said. It’s just a sliver.

What about the U.’s fraternities and sororities?

Assaults at fraternities or sororities at the U. are counted in the Clery numbers, even though those houses are technically off campus.

That’s because the Clery Act requires associated organizations to be included. But the reports don’t have to delineate when an assault specifically occurred at a Greek house.

A separate Utah Legislature-mandated report, though — on housing crime statistics from each public college and university in the state — does require that.

According to that report for 2025, zero of the 23 reported rapes at the U. occurred at a fraternity or sorority.

Greek life has come under increased scrutiny after a woman filed a civil lawsuit in New York earlier this month, alleging she was raped by seven men at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University. Based on that, prosecutors said they would also reopen the criminal investigation into the reported 2024 assaults.

Previously at the U., the Sigma Nu fraternity was shut down in 2025. That was largely over hazing.

Prior to that, the U.’s chapter of Kappa Sigma was terminated based on a reported assault at its house during a “wine Wednesday” event in September 2021. A student told police she was sexually assaulted by a fraternity member while dancing. Kappa Sigma later regained its recognition in 2024.

A second sexual assault was reported to have occurred at another U. fraternity in December 2021, which the university declined to name at the time.

The U. responded by temporarily suspending all fraternity and sorority activities and hosting an event for Greek life students about consent.

Where can I find the reports for other Utah colleges and universities?

Less than 10% of students read the annual Clery reports, Linder said, citing a survey she conducted.

Any school that accepts federal funding must annually create and post the numbers — including private schools.

Here are links to the Clery reports for each of Utah’s eight public colleges and universities, as well as two of Utah’s most prominent private schools:

• The University of Utah reported the highest numbers of sexual violence of any school in the state.

• Utah State University saw an increase in reports of both dating and domestic violence.

• Utah Valley University had the second-highest count of Utah schools for rapes reported in 2025 (12).

• Weber State University documented dips in reported rapes and fondling since 2024.

• Utah Tech University shared numbers that stayed fairly steady from the previous year.

• Southern Utah University saw increases across the board for reports of dating and sexual violence.

• Salt Lake Community College’s numbers also held steady compared to previous reports.

• Snow College reported zero cases of domestic violence and stalking on its campuses.

• Brigham Young University saw the second-highest count for fondling cases after the U., with 12 reported in 2025.

• Westminster University reported zero cases of rape and fondling.

Note to readers • If you or someone you know needs assistance or resources, Utah’s 24-hour sexual violence crisis and information hotline is available at 801-736-4356.