Grand Canyon Times

A report released Jan. 15, 2025, by the Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute estimates that mandatory “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) course requirements at public universities cost students and taxpayers about $2 billion and require around 40 million hours of student time.

The report highlights the growing financial and time commitments tied to DEI programs in higher education.

It says that more than two-thirds of major U.S. universities require students to take DEI-focused courses as part of their degree programs. These courses are often integrated into general education requirements or specific graduation mandates.

According to the Goldwater Institute, the costs associated with these programs come from tuition fees paid by students and public funds allocated to support DEI initiatives. 

The report also notes the time investment required for students to complete these courses, which often come at the expense of other academic or career-focused pursuits.

At some universities, DEI spending is significant. For example, the University of Michigan allocated $30 million in a single year to DEI-related programs and staffing. Other institutions have similarly large budgets for DEI offices and initiatives.

Some states have begun rolling back DEI mandates. The University of Wyoming recently announced plans to shut down its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In North Carolina, the University of North Carolina system redirected $2.3 million from DEI programs to public safety efforts.

The Goldwater Institute has also proposed legislative solutions to address the issue. The Freedom from Indoctrination Act, introduced in several state legislatures, seeks to prevent public universities from requiring DEI courses for graduation. 

The proposed legislation would also ensure that faculty are not required to include DEI content in their coursework.