Ohio Senate Bill 1 Is Reshaping Higher Education

Ohio Senate Bill 1 is no longer an abstract policy debate. It is now actively reshaping how public colleges and universities in Ohio operate, what they teach, and which programs are allowed to exist.

Ohio Senate Bill 1, signed into law on March 28, 2025, imposes new restrictions on academic programs and diversity initiatives at public institutions. The law applies to all 14 public universities and 22 community colleges in the state, affecting every one of Ohio’s 36 public higher education institutions.

Supporters describe the legislation as a long-overdue correction, aimed at cutting costs and curbing what they see as ideological excess on campus. Critics argue it represents one of the most sweeping state interventions into higher education governance in decades. What is undeniable is that Ohio colleges are already being forced to make concrete, and in some cases irreversible, decisions.

Why Ohio Senate Bill 1 Was Introduced

Lawmakers behind Ohio Senate Bill 1 have consistently framed the bill around accountability and neutrality.

On the academic side, they argue that programs graduating only a handful of students year after year represent poor use of taxpayer dollars, particularly as statewide enrollment declines. Setting a minimum graduation threshold, they say, ensures institutions prioritize degrees with clear demand and measurable outcomes.

On the cultural side, sponsors contend that DEI programs promote political viewpoints rather than equal treatment, describing them as forms of institutional discrimination. The law defines certain concepts as “controversial beliefs” and restricts how public colleges can promote or require them.

Together, these arguments position SB 1 as both a financial reform and an ideological reset. Critics counter that the bill’s definitions are broad, its metrics are blunt, and its assumptions about how universities function are deeply flawed.

What the Law Requires Colleges to Do

Ohio Senate Bill 1 introduces two mandates that are driving immediate change.

First, undergraduate academic programs that average fewer than five graduates annually over three years must be eliminated. Institutions can apply to the Ohio Department of Education for waivers to retain programs they believe are essential, but final authority rests with the state.

Second, colleges must dismantle or significantly revise DEI offices, programming, and mandatory training. Student support services can continue only if they are reframed to comply with the law’s restrictions.

The legislation also affects the curriculum. Public institutions are reviewing required courses in American government and U.S. history to ensure compliance with the bill’s standards.

What Is Happening Now on Campuses

The impact of Ohio Senate Bill 1 is already visible.

At Ohio University, administrators have suspended multiple undergraduate programs that did not meet the graduation threshold. Other departments are undergoing internal reviews as faculty wait to learn whether their degrees will survive.

At Ohio State University, leaders have taken a different approach. Rather than immediately eliminating programs, the university has requested waivers for roughly a dozen low-producing undergraduate offerings. Administrators argue these programs serve critical academic, cultural, or workforce roles that cannot be measured solely by enrollment counts.

Community colleges face similar pressures, often with fewer resources and smaller student populations. Degrees that serve niche industries or regional needs are among the most vulnerable, even when they align with local workforce demands.

Meanwhile, DEI offices across the state have been closed, restructured, or renamed. Faculty and staff describe uncertainty about what language is permissible and how student support can continue under the new framework.

Why the Waiver Process Matters

The waiver provision may become the most consequential element of Ohio Senate Bill 1.

While waivers offer flexibility in theory, they also shift authority from campuses to state officials. Programs that once survived based on academic judgment must now be defended using criteria defined outside the institution.

Departments do not know whether waivers will be routinely approved or selectively granted. That uncertainty affects long-term planning, faculty recruitment, and student advising. Even programs that receive temporary approval remain under pressure, knowing that future data reviews could lead to elimination.

Critics argue the waiver system effectively places academic priorities under political review. Supporters respond that public institutions should be accountable to the state that funds them.

What This Means for Students and Faculty

For students, Ohio Senate Bill 1 narrows choice.

Small, interdisciplinary, and emerging fields are often the first to fall below graduation thresholds, even when they provide pathways to graduate study or public service careers. Students currently enrolled in affected programs may face teach-out plans or be forced to change majors midstream.

Faculty face heightened insecurity. Program eliminations can lead to reduced course offerings, departmental contraction, or job losses. Restrictions on DEI initiatives also affect research agendas, classroom discussions, and campus climate.

The law’s vague language around controversial beliefs has raised concerns about self-censorship, with some faculty avoiding certain topics to reduce risk.

Is Ohio Acting Alone?

Ohio is not an outlier, but it is moving further than most.

States such as Florida and Texas have enacted laws restricting DEI offices and diversity training at public colleges. Kentucky lawmakers have advanced proposals that reduce tenure protections and expand legislative oversight of universities.

What sets Ohio Senate Bill 1 apart is its scope. Few states have combined DEI restrictions with a statutory mandate to eliminate academic programs based on a fixed graduation metric. By embedding those requirements directly in law, Ohio shifts academic decision-making away from campuses and into the state’s hands.

Higher education leaders nationwide are watching closely. If Ohio’s approach proceeds without legal or operational fallout, it may become a model. If it leads to instability, enrollment declines, or faculty departures, it may serve as a warning.

What Comes Next

The full impact of Ohio Senate Bill 1 will take years to measure.

Key questions remain unresolved: How often will waivers be approved? Which programs will disappear permanently? How will students respond as choices narrow and campus climates change?

For now, Ohio’s public colleges are operating in a period of accelerated adjustment. Academic offerings are being evaluated through a narrow numerical lens. DEI work is being dismantled or redefined. Faculty and administrators are navigating a new balance of authority between campuses and the state.

Ohio Senate Bill 1 is more than a budgetary or cultural reform. It is a signal that the relationship between public universities and state government is shifting, and that higher education’s future may be shaped as much by legislation as by scholarship.

Subscribe to edCircuit to stay up to date on all of our shows, podcasts, news, and thought leadership articles.