Which types of institutions must comply with the Clery Act?

The Clery Act applies to institutions of higher education that participate in federal student financial aid programs. This includes both public and private colleges and universities that receive such funding. The Act was enacted to promote campus safety and require these institutions to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses, which is critical for prospective students and their families when making informed decisions about where to study.

Institutions that participate in federal student financial aid programs must adhere to various compliance requirements, including maintaining a crime log, publishing annual security reports, and providing timely warnings regarding certain crimes that pose a threat to the community. Because participation in federal financial aid creates an obligation to ensure transparency and safety, this is the fundamental reason why compliance is tied specifically to those institutions.

The other options are limited in scope: public universities do not have exclusive obligations under the Clery Act, as many private institutions are also subject to it. Institutions operating solely on private property can still be part of the federal aid program, and thus fall under Clery Act requirements. Finally, the Clery Act does not apply universally to all educational institutions regardless of funding; only those that are involved with federal student financial aid are required to comply. This nuanced understanding of the Act highlights the critical intersection between federal financial assistance and