![](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/indepth-static-assets/uploads/master/9722521002/e9dd7eb9-72c9-4168-8ebd-feded716facc-title-ix-landing-topper-v2.jpg?width=2160)
USA TODAY’s “Title IX: Falling short at 50” exposes how top U.S. colleges and universities still fail to live up to the landmark law that bans sexual discrimination in education. Title IX, which turned 50 in summer 2022, requires equity across a broad range of areas in academics and athletics. Despite tremendous gains during the past five decades, many colleges and universities fall short, leaving women struggling for equal footing.
What happens if a school doesn’t comply with Title IX? Not a whole lot.
![Illustration of student stuck in hourglass and red tape](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/indepth-static-assets/uploads/master/9722521002/43d4a8f5-8738-4bbd-aad9-b85a99653ce8-red-tape-landing.jpg)
Enforcement of the federal gender-equity law is essentially toothless, mired in red tape and delays as aggrieved students wait years for relief. Read the story
![Enforcement of the federal gender-equity law is essentially toothless, mired in red tape and delays as aggrieved students wait years for relief.](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/12/13/USAT/8a9bee17-4884-4afa-ab75-e697c8af4332-title_ix_red_tape.jpg)
Colleges expel few sexual misconduct offenders while survivors suffer
Tens of thousands of sexual misconduct reports filed across dozens of colleges led to just 1,094 students suspended and 594 expelled over seven years. Read the story
How many students did your university suspend or expel for sexual misconduct under Title IX?
![Data illustration](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/11/16/USAT/e2bf3dd4-85ed-4c02-88dc-d7e370af8c83-toppper-title-IX.png)
Explore the results of a first-of-its-kind data analysis of Title IX case outcomes from dozens of the nation’s largest public universities. Explore the data
![See how many students colleges suspended or expelled for sex misconduct.](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/11/16/USAT/e2bf3dd4-85ed-4c02-88dc-d7e370af8c83-toppper-title-IX.png)
She reported him for rape, but he stayed on campus and struck again
![Illustration of woman being silenced](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/11/16/USAT/841c0e85-605b-4648-a716-944c89adaef6-silenced_promo.jpg)
Marshall University didn’t expel a student after a rape claim. Victims reveal how the school failed them under Title IX. Read the story
![A Marshall University student is in prison for rape. His victims reveal how the school failed them.](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/11/16/USAT/841c0e85-605b-4648-a716-944c89adaef6-silenced_promo.jpg)
Female athletes stiffed on scholarship money at top US colleges
![Illustration of men having more scholarship money](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/indepth-static-assets/uploads/master/7640647001/31e61cde-4779-4815-8096-c03e2b4a592c-scholarships-topper-v5.jpg)
The schools that cheated women of their fair share should have given them $23.7 million more in athletic scholarships in 2020-21, USA TODAY found. Read the story
![Female athletes stiffed on scholarships at some of the biggest colleges in the country.](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/08/15/USAT/f5529f20-0e4a-4536-bef1-650638775886-scholarships_topper_v4.jpg)
5 charts show athletic scholarships’ bias toward football — and against women
![Illustration of football](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/indepth-static-assets/uploads/master/10142113002/cecdfd88-f9cc-4e6a-a90d-434c75720d4c-scholarship-money.png)
While most football and basketball players receive full-ride scholarships, many athletes' aid falls short of covering their college costs. Explore the graphics
![Promo image for athletic scholarships](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/07/27/USAT/d4012f51-aa83-449a-bc31-0ffebaf7a5b4-scholarship-money.png)
Women still underrepresented in college sports 50 years after Title IX
Many of the nation’s top football colleges don’t give enough roster spots to women. Read the investigation
![‘Saddest fact’ on Title IX anniversary: Schools say women well represented in sports. It’s not even close.](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/06/02/USAT/dd55b6f7-2b7e-4972-8a16-e43ec0c2a6ea-title_ix_prongs_promo.jpg)
Padding the numbers
![Illustration of women in sports over the past 50 years](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/indepth-static-assets/uploads/master/9722521002/6623220c-f7b3-4da1-acc1-89b305c12909-title-ix-timeline-1280x720.jpg)
Title IX was intended to close the gender gap in college athletics. But schools are rigging the numbers. Read the investigation
![Title IX was intended to close the gender gap in college athletics. But schools are rigging the numbers.](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/05/20/USAT/8b15ca7f-d1e5-4a15-8830-232ea84e339f-title_ix_track_topper.jpg)
Explore the timeline
Title IX aimed to get women into grad schools. Over 50 years, it shaped their role in sports. Learn more
![Title IX aimed to get women into grad schools. Over 50 years, it shaped college sports.](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/06/10/USAT/4e4b42b5-ff64-4fad-bc27-cfae54716da6-title_ix_timeline_desktop_v3.jpg)
Is your school skirting Title IX’s intent?
![Cards showing college data](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/indepth-static-assets/uploads/master/9722521002/9a6944f1-2ad7-4789-9996-6c6cb3941e45-cards.jpg)
See which colleges inflated their women's rosters to look more balanced and how they did it. Explore the analysis
How to game the numbers for Title IX
![Illustration of woman jumping over hurdle](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/indepth-static-assets/uploads/master/9722521002/f4e40516-a15b-43e6-a075-308dc530518c-hurdler-2.jpg)
You're the new athletic director at Big State University. How can you make your women's sports rosters look bigger without adding any new teams? Explore the graphic novel
![Schools use different tactics to inflate numbers on their women's sports rosters.](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/05/20/USAT/bc100917-5beb-4c12-a31a-73e5e7fa77c5-title_ix_graphic_novel.png)
Breaking down the roster numbers
![Illustration of women rowing with mirrors depicting extra rowers](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/d1475a5a-439a-46e0-85f8-eec37d6b67b4-rowing-topper3.png)
College athletic programs rely on three key methods to boost women's roster spots without adding new teams or athletes. Explore the data
![Title IX promo image](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/d1475a5a-439a-46e0-85f8-eec37d6b67b4-rowing-topper3.png)
‘They’ve had 50 years to figure it out’
![Illustration of basketballs on a scale](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/03/29/USAT/0d0743c0-e918-47f3-81a3-e7a3a4120c82-title_ixbasketball_v2.jpg)
Despite progress driven by Title IX, colleges devote fewer resources to women’s sports, based on a first-of-its-kind data analysis by USA TODAY. Read the investigation
![Title IX disparities in major college sports are too big to ignore.](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/03/29/USAT/0d0743c0-e918-47f3-81a3-e7a3a4120c82-title_ixbasketball_v2.jpg)
Funding of college sports falls short of law’s promise to women
![Football player climbing coin stacks](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/03/29/USAT/8bf429c5-3629-415b-9781-caf83270c1eb-NCAA-money.png)
Eight charts detail the disparities in spending on men’s and women’s sports in similar major college programs. Explore the graphics
![Title IX: Analysis shows funding for women's sports still falls short.](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/03/29/USAT/8bf429c5-3629-415b-9781-caf83270c1eb-NCAA-money.png)
Inside the numbers
Searchable data offers glimpse into how colleges short-change women’s sports. Search the data
Q&A on law’s impact
Misconceptions persist about how Title IX is enforced, what protections it affords women, and if it’s unfair to male athletes. Read the Q&A