Ohio State University Spent $13M a Year on DEI: At the Ohio State University (OSU), a sprawling public institution in a deeply conservative state, the cost of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has raised eyebrows. A recent audit revealed the university spends an eye-watering $13 million annually on DEI initiatives, a figure that could fund the tuition of 1,000 in-state students at its main campus, the DailyMail reported. While such spending has become a flashpoint in the national debate over DEI, the details behind this budget paint a complex picture of how these funds are allocated, and how they are actually put to use.
The spotlight on OSU’s DEI expenditures has reignited a culture war between progressive advocates who champion these initiatives as critical for equity and conservatives who view them as ideological overreach. OpenTheBooks.com, a watchdog group tracking public spending, revealed that some of the university’s top DEI officials, such as James L. Moore and Keesha Mitchell, earn staggering salaries of $300,000 annually, more than five times the state’s median income, according to the DailyMail report. While OSU questioned the methodology of the $13 million calculation, it has not provided an alternate figure, further fueling skepticism.
The debate is not just about salaries. Critics argue the DEI agenda has strayed far from its stated mission and risks becoming a vehicle for divisive identity politics. In Ohio, a state where Donald Trump secured an 11-point victory in the 2024 election, the contrast between public opinion and university spending has drawn sharp criticism from figures like JD Vance, the state’s vice president-elect. Vance has publicly lambasted what he calls a “troubling rise of racial prejudice on campus,” urging lawmakers to scrutinize university funding. Read the report.
Where the Money Went
Beyond the hefty salaries of DEI leaders, the $13 million budget supports an extensive network of programs, departments, and initiatives:
DEI Departments and Staffing
A significant portion of OSU’s DEI budget is dedicated to maintaining two key offices:
- The Office of Diversity and Inclusion employs 90 staff members who oversee initiatives ranging from student support to faculty development.
- The Office of Institutional Equity employs 32 individuals tasked with ensuring compliance with equity policies and fostering an inclusive campus culture.
The university also employs 26 faculty members in its Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies program, where professors earn salaries as high as $170,000. These faculty members not only teach but also develop courses designed to challenge traditional perspectives.
Controversial Course Offerings
OSU’s DEI spending extends into academics, funding courses with niche and often polarizing themes:
“Sexualities and Citizenship” explores female-homosexual experiences in the U.S.
“Queer Ecologies: Gender, Sexuality, & the Environment” examines environmental issues through feminist and queer lenses, aiming to disrupt conventional gendered and heterosexual assumptions about nature.
External DEI-Related Expenditures
OSU’s DEI budget also covers payments to external organizations:
- $25,000 to the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity for mentorship programs.
- $4,500 to the National Diversity Council for DEI workshops and training.
- $16,500 to Salvation and Social Justice, a New Jersey-based racial justice organization.
Grants Supporting DEI
OSU has secured substantial external funding to support DEI initiatives, including:
- $445,600 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the “Girls* on Rock” program, which encourages diversity in the geosciences.
- $717,000 from the Department of Agriculture to study cultural resistance to insect-based proteins, promoting sustainability and diversity in food systems.
- $749,999 from the NSF for research on misinformation management during crises.
- $885,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate vaccine hesitancy, focusing on policy and media influences.
The Bigger Picture
The data underscores the sheer scale of OSU’s DEI commitment, which some view as a necessary investment in equity and inclusion while others see as emblematic of bureaucratic overreach. Nationwide, states such as Texas and Florida have moved to defund or outright ban DEI offices, reflecting a broader conservative backlash against these programs.
In Ohio, where the university stands as a flagship institution, the debate is far from settled. For advocates, the initiatives represent progress in addressing systemic inequities. For critics, the $13 million price tag is a glaring example of misplaced priorities in an era of soaring tuition costs and mounting student debt.
As scrutiny of DEI spending intensifies, OSU may find itself at the center of a growing national conversation about the role of public universities in navigating the intersection of education, politics, and identity.
