ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Vivek Ramaswamy faces backlash over university reform plan
His proposal to turn smaller campuses into specialized “centers of excellence” has drawn criticism from university supporters and sections of the conservative base.
-
Malvika Choudhary - Sat, 28, Mar 2026
- 16:30 EDT
- 27
Vivek Ramaswamy / X (Vivek Ramaswamy)
Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is facing backlash after critics accused him of pushing higher education reforms that they claim could benefit Indian professionals and H-1B visa program holders.
The controversy erupted after a social media user alleged that Ramaswamy had “doubled down” on closing prominent Ohio universities such as University of Akron, Kent State University and Central State University.
Also Read: Vivek Ramaswamy promises property tax relief in new ad
The user claimed the move was an attempt to weaken the domestic STEM competitiveness and take away jobs from the 20,000 locals that the concerned universities employ with an intention of benefiting foreign talent
The criticism followed an opinion piece by Ramaswamy in The Columbus Dispatch, in which he argued that Ohio must reform what he called its “fragmented” public university system.
While in the op-ed, Ramaswamy did not explicitly call for the closure of any institution, he said the state’s higher education model was no longer sustainable and required structural change.
According to Ramaswamy, Ohio is facing both demographic and educational shifts. He wrote that the number of high school graduates in the state has already peaked and is projected to decline by 17 percent by 2041. He also pointed to falling interest in four-year college degrees, saying enrollment rates dropped from 59 percent in 2015 to 47.6 percent in 2021. At the same time, he said, the cost of attending Ohio’s public universities has risen by nearly 50 percent over the past 15 years.
Vivek Ramaswamy just reposted this article where he doubles down on closing Ohio Universities, to eliminate global Ohio engineering competition to benefit India and H1Bs. He wants to close the following Ohio Engineering and STEM Universities :
— The Constitutionalist (@WeWillBeFree24) March 27, 2026
University of Akron: Ranked #1… pic.twitter.com/arsdcqGvX8
Ramaswamy argued that Ohio is spreading its resources too thinly across 14 public universities, 24 regional branches and 22 community colleges. Rather than eliminating institutions altogether, he proposed converting smaller or lower-enrollment campuses into specialized “centers of excellence” focused on particular academic strengths.
“Specialization creates distinction, and distinction attracts students,” he wrote, arguing that universities should focus on what they do best to improve quality and reduce costs.
The proposal has since drawn criticism from university supporters and sections of the conservative base, who argue that such restructuring could disproportionately affect regional institutions and college towns that depend on them for jobs, enrollment and local economic activity. Critics have also said the plan could reduce access to public higher education in parts of the state.
Some critics framed the proposal through the lens of Ramaswamy’s past association with debates around H-1B visas, arguing that weakening local STEM institutions would undercut educational and workforce opportunities for Ohio residents.
Online reaction to the resurfaced proposal was swift. One user wrote, “Never Ramaswarmy!!!! SAVE OHIO AND SAVE OHIO UNIVERSITIES!!! VOTE CASEY PUTSCH FOR OHIO GOVERNOR!!!!”
Some responses also turned explicitly anti-Indian. One user wrote, “Scammers, completely want to destroy any chance of any American ever getting a white collar job ever again. He Wants Americans to serve their new masters, Indians.”
Another said, “He’s making Ohio a mini-India, with himself as king,” while a third wrote, “You can take a boy out of crooked India you can't take crooked India out of the boy.”
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login