Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania is drawing criticism for economics and interdisciplinary courses that emphasize Marxist and left-leaning frameworks, according to reports from conservative outlets. Critics say the curriculum focuses on critiques of capitalism and racial inequality without offering balanced study of free-market principles.
The college’s economics department features multiple courses tied explicitly to Marxist thought and related concepts. Course titles cited include Socialism, Marxian Economics, and Marxian Theories of Crisis. Other offerings focus on social inequality, race, and power dynamics, such as Inequality, Power, and Justice and Race and Inequality in the United States. These classes cover topics such as racial/ethnic struggles, global inequality, mass incarceration, voter disenfranchisement, healthcare disparities, and labor market discrimination. Critics note that the college does not offer a dedicated course on capitalism.
Campus Reform, a conservative news site, labels this emphasis a “Marxist curriculum” and highlights the college’s Inequality, Poverty, Power, and Social Justice Initiative as a core component of the academic experience. The initiative is described as promoting transdisciplinary study and dialogue about socioeconomic injustices.
Supporters of such programs argue that higher education should explore a range of economic theories and social issues so students gain broad analytical skills. Critics counter that framing education around Marxist critiques risks indoctrinating students with ideology rather than equipping them to thrive in a free-market economy. Conservative commentators also warn that focusing on structural critiques of capitalism and emphasizing race and power can deepen societal divisions rather than prepare students for careers in business or public service.
Franklin & Marshall College is a private liberal arts school that, like many institutions, has seen increased scrutiny for its curriculum choices. Conservative critics point to the economic courses and associated initiatives as evidence of a broader trend on college campuses to prioritize ideological education over balanced academic inquiry. Calls from lawmakers and activists for curriculum reform emphasize the importance of teaching foundational American economic principles, including capitalism, alongside any study of Marxist or critical theories.
